Oliver Theodore Knutson

October 25, 1932 ~ March 1, 2008

Oliver Theodore Knutson, born October 25, 1932 in Bismarck, ND to Theodore Sylvester Knutson and Alice Gertrude Lane, passed away March 1, 2008 at his home in Moab, UT. He was 75 years old.

Ollie grew up and went to school through eighth grade in Tuttle, ND, after which he did farming work in the area.

In 1950, when he got tired of the cold north country, he headed south to the oilfields of Farmington, NM. He followed the rigs to Moab, UT, and it was his undoing when he met a feisty Mormon girl, a Moab native, and she stole his heart.

Ollie and Roberta Holyoak were married July 5, 1958 (they were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on November 7, 1967) and they made Moab their permanent home.

Ollie worked as a truck driver, and a mechanic for C.O. Keller and Texas Gulf before he and Roberta decided to go into business for themselves, operating a gas station and expanding to heavy equipment and oilfield services.

They had two sons, David and Shawn, who grew up working for their dad and joined the family business operating as Knut & Sons Oilfield Construction (which is one of Moab’s longest operating businesses). Ollie was still hard at work in the business at the time of his passing.

Although Ollie spent most of his life working in the “oil patch”, he had farming in his blood and enjoyed taking care of his hay and the array of animals on his mini-farm.

In the early years of working in trucking and mining, he met many of his friends who have remained true and close to this day. These things brought him great satisfaction and contentment in his life.

The only thing he loved more was doting on his wife and grandchildren, who were absolutely precious to him.

As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a highlight of his service to the church was serving as a temple worker with his wife in the Monticello, UT Temple. They grew to love and appreciate so many wonderful people they worked with there. There are also many more than his own grandchildren who love him and call him Grandpa as a result of several years of loving service in the Nursery.

Ollie’s parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Roberta; sons David (Merrie) of Moab and Shawn (Marilyn) of Treasureton, ID; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Jordan (Jaicee) and daughter Naivie, McLain (Sheri) and son Benjamin, Trevor (Sarah), Brennan, Reyce, Sydnie, T.J., Shaelie, and Shelbie. He is also survived by a brother Carl (Arlene) Knutson of Tuttle, ND and a sister Jean Posey of Moab, and beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Ollie were March 10 at the LDS Stake Center in Moab.