Dale Arlo Knudson passed away unexpectedly on August 1, 2026, in Jamestown, North Dakota with his loving wife Norine and other family and friends at his side. Dale was born November 11, 1938, to June Fredrickson Knudson and Walter Knudson at his Aunt Ellen’s home in Kensal, North Dakota.

Dale’s parents moved the family to Pingree, ND in 1941, where they settled and raised their four boys: Duane, Dennis, Dale and Mark focusing on farming, family, and faith. All the boys attended Pingree schools. In high school Dale and Dennis were standouts as teammates on the Pingree Wildcat basketball team. Dale’s call to service began early in his life. At 17, Dale left high school to enlist in the Army but proudly completed his degree and graduated from Pingree High School while serving our country.

After completing his service, Dale met the love of his life, Norine, at community events around Pingree and Buchanan and on October 11, 1959, they were married. Dale and Norine settled in Pingree and spent the rest of their lives there raising their kids – Kevin, Karen, and Kathy, raising their crops and supporting their community and the Pingree Lutheran Church.

Always a steward of the land, Dale and Duane farmed together for many years as did Dale and his son Kevin until Dale decided to retire from actively farming his land and began leasing his land to local farmers. Additionally, he placed sections of his land into the Conservation Reserve Program to replenish the land and enhance wildlife habitats.

Upon retiring from farming Dale served his community for 30 years as a Rural Letter Carrier in the Woodworth-Pettibone-Medina areas. Rain, mud, or blinding blizzards, Dale didn’t just deliver the mail – he brought a friendly face and a helping hand to every driveway, always going the extra mile to check in on his neighbors.

Three foundational passions persisted throughout all the stages of Dale’s life – his family, his church, and his community. Dale loved Pingree and its residents. Whatever the community needed – labor, sponsorship, participation or even providing a batch of his famous “Dale’s Donuts” Dale was always happy to do whatever he could to make Pingree and its residents proud.

As much as Dale loved Pingree at large, one place holds a special place in Dale’s heart – the Pingree Lutheran Church. Dale learned stewardship of the church from its elders and Dale ensured that sense of responsibility and love of this church has been passed to the next generation. Dale is at peace knowing his church is in good hands.

Dale’s ultimate service was towards the love of his family. Whether you knew him as Dale, Dad, Grandpa, Pa, or Uncle Dale, you always knew that Dale loved you, cared about you, worried about you and prayed for you. Whatever your relationship with Dale, he would want each of us to remember to “love one another”.

Dale was preceded in death by his children Kevin and Karen Knudson; parents W.E. and June Knudson; his brothers Denny Knudson (Mary Bell) and Duane Knudson and his late wife Lois; In-laws Alex and Nadine Wilkinson; brother-In-law Dick Wilkinson and his late wife Cathy; sister-In-Law Bev (Wilkinson) Bultema and her late husband Milt.

Dale is survived by his cherished wife of more than 66 years Norine Knudson of Pingree, ND; his daughter Kathy Knudson Moore (Mike) and adored grandsons Grant and Zach, all of Garland, TX; brother Mark Knudson (Suzanne) of Horseshoe Bay, TX; sister-in-law Mary Belle Knudson (Denny), Castle Rock, CO; and many other loved nephews, nieces and extended family throughout the United States and Canada.

Norine and the rest of Dale’s family would like to offer thanks and appreciation to the staff at Ave Marie for their care and kindness to Dale throughout his stay.

A celebration of Dale’s life will be held on Friday, August 21 at 10 am at the Pingree Lutheran Church followed by a military burial at the Pingree Cemetery. A community reception will follow at Getting Sauced in Pingree.

In lieu of flowers, please send your memorials to any of Dale’s favorite charities: Pingree Lutheran Church, 509 Bentley Avenue, Pingree, ND 58476; Great Plains Food Bank; or Ave Maria (https://smphealth.org/avemaria/donate/).

Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.