Rolland David Knutson, age 88, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2018 due to complications from heart failure and diabetes.  Rolland was born February 25, 1930 to Theodore (Ted) and Nellie (Mulder) Knutson in Volga, South Dakota.  He was married 57 years to Wilda M. Knutson of East Liverpool, Ohio and proceeded Wilda in death.

Rolland grew up in the Volga area and volunteered for the US Army Airforce before his senior year of high school.  He later returned to complete his senior year graduating from Lake Norden high School in 1949.  He then returned to the Army Airforce completing his enlistment during the Korean War.  Rolland was a flight mechanic, and his assignments flew the wounded to various VA hospitals in the U.S.

Rolland's parents, brothers and sisters, and extended family moved from South Dakota to the greater Seattle area of Washington state in 1951.  Rolland completed a year of college at the University of Washington before becoming an airline pilot and mechanic for Simpson Timber company.  Rolland, Wilda, and daughter Patricia returned to South Dakota in the late '60's and lived in Volga in the old hospital then turned into apartments.  Rolland taught flying in Brookings while he and wife Wilda took over the Badger Café.  The extreme cold of the Dakota's drove Rolland and family to Colorado where Rolland opened Knut's Garage following in his dad's footsteps.  Rolland moved his family back to Washington state in the late 70's to be close to his mom, dad, and family.

Rolland was educated in airline and automobile mechanics, wood working, plumbing, and electrical systems.  In his life he built a mechanics garage, a home, barns, fences, and sheds.  There was not anything he could not fix or make.  Our family joke was, "If there is an earthquake, get under something dad made because it will stand!"

Rolland is survived by his sister Donna Torkelson, brother and wife Milford and Ellen Knutson, Roger and Carol Knutson, sister and brother-in-law Rollen and Wini Pethtel, daughter Patricia Westcott, granddaughter Jacqueline Fraizer and many loved nieces and nephews.  Rolland was proceeded in death by his sister Marjorie Knutson Speath.

Please join us July 9, 2021 at 11 AM at the Volga Christian Reformed Church in Volga, South Dakota where both Rolland and Wilda will be remembered.  A color guard interment in First Lutheran Cemetery at Volga will follow the funeral service.  Lunch will be provided following the burial at the Community Center in Volga.  In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Lutheran cemetery for care of the grounds.