Lyle Knudsen

Lyle Hartvig Knudsen, 81, of Bain-ville died Thursday, May 5, 2022, at the Billings Clinic in Billings.

He was born on Feb. 20, 1941, to Hartvig and Hazel Knudsen. His father died when Lyle was just five years old. He was raised on the family farm just north of Bainville along with his siblings Gerald, Wayne, Naoma, Beulah and Orabelle. Faith and family helped them through those tough times.

He attended Bainville School and graduated in 1959. After high school, he worked as a farmhand and, in 1961, his sister Beulah introduced him to a coworker named Mary Madson. They were a perfect match and, in 1962, they were married in Ronan. They farmed north of Lanark and started a family. In that same year, he joined the Montana National Guard. He was honorably discharged in 1968 with the rank of E-5. He proved to be a good role model as his three boys all joined the National Guard when they got older. In 1970, he moved his family to Ronan, where he worked as a shop foreman for a Chrysler dealership.

Eastern Montana called them back to Bainville in the mid ‘70s where he started Knudsen Repair Center where the Welcome Stop is presently located. He decided to get into the oil business in the ‘80s and started Knudsen Contract Pumping. Along with his sons, he worked many years in the oilfield and also worked as a school bus mechanic and bus driver for the Bainville School. He was mechanically minded and because of that talent many people would call or stop by the house asking questions about their vehicle issues for years after the repair shop had closed.

He was a hardworking man his entire life. He found joy in the simple things each day. He enjoyed deer hunting, toe tapping gospel music and following the activities and growth of his grandchildren.

He was an active member of Bainville Faith Fellowship Church. He along with other members helped to purchase, move and setup the church in its current location. He loved to travel with Mary whether it was on an Alaskan cruise, to see his sister Beulah in California or on the back roads of Montana. He would take Mary almost daily to the Welcome Stop for coffee and a visit with friends followed by a drive in the side by side to check on the town.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Gerald, Wayne, Naoma and Orabelle.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; sister, Beulah; daughter, Sherry Welty; sons, Lane, Mike and Brent; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

His funeral service will be held on Sunday, May 15, at 2 p.m. (MST) at the Bainville School in Bainville. Pastor Lane Vannatta will officiate. Burial will be at the Bainville Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Williston on Friday, May 13, from 12 to 4 p.m. (CST) and one hour prior to the service time on Sunday. The funeral service will be livestreamed directly on his obituary page on Fulkerson Stevenson’s website at www.fulkersons. com.