Earlier this year, Governor Walz asked a merit selection panel consisting of leadership in his administration, as well as the at-large members of the Commission on Judicial Selection, to solicit applicants, review candidates, and recommend finalists for appointment to the Court of Appeals.
The panel announced that it is recommending four candidates for consideration to fill the upcoming vacancies on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. These vacancies will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Louise Dovre Bjorkman and the Honorable Randall J. Slieter. One vacancy is at-large, and the other seat is designated for Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District.
Anne Rasmusson: Anne Rasmusson is the assistant chief judge of the Ninth Judicial District and is chambered in Polk County. Through her work, she established and served on the White Earth/Mahnomen DWI and Drug Courts, and the DWI Courts for Polk, Red Lake, and Norman counties. Rasmusson was previously a partner at Rust, Stock, & Rasmusson, P.A. She is chair of the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the General Rules of Practice, chair of the Ninth Judicial District Case Flow Committee, and a member of the Children’s Justice Initiative Committee. Rasmusson’s community involvement includes chairing the RiverView Healthcare Association Board of Directors and the Polk County Developmental Achievement Center.
Stephanie Beckman: Stephanie Beckman is the chief judge of the Eighth Judicial District and is chambered in Meeker County. She previously was the Meeker County Attorney and an assistant county attorney in Stearns County. During her time on the bench, Beckman started a districtwide treatment court, assisted in starting a child protection specialty court, and initiated a districtwide housing court. She serves as a board member on the Board on Judicial Standards and the Minnesota Rules of Evidence Advisory Committee to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Beckman also serves as a member of the National Judicial Well-Being Collaborative and is a board member for the Litchfield Area Mentor Program and the Meeker County Law Library.
Lisa Beane: Lisa Beane is a senior associate general counsel in the University of Minnesota’s Office of the General Counsel. She previously was an associate in the Minneapolis office of Jones Day and at Robins Kaplan LLP. Beane also previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Wilhelmina M. Wright at the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and at the Minnesota Supreme Court. Her community involvement includes serving as a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure and on the board of directors of the Minnesota Lavender Bar Association.
Liz Kramer: Liz Kramer is the solicitor general for the State of Minnesota, where she defends the constitutionality of state laws and represents Minnesota in state and federal appellate courts. She was previously a partner at Stinson LLP, where she practiced complex commercial litigation, and a law clerk to the Honorable Helen M. Meyer on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Kramer’s community involvement includes serving on the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Rules on Civil Appellate Procedure and the boards of the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society. Kramer’s community involvement has also included serving on the Appellate Practice Section Council of the Minnesota State Bar Association and helping found the Appeals Self-Help Clinic for self-represented parties in appeals.
On Monday, November 24th, at 1:30 pm, the Crookston fire department responded to a call about a rotten egg smell from a homeowner on the 300th block of Grant Street. The responders used a gas monitor and found nothing; therefore, they informed the homeowner and cleared the scene.
On Monday, November 24th, at 6:26 pm, the Crookston fire department responded to an alarm activation on 100th Sergeant Street. On the scene, it was discovered to have been caused by steam from burnt food triggering it. So they reset the alarm and cleared the scene.
On Monday, November 24th, the Crookston fire department responded to an elevator alarm activation on the 100th block of Fisher. On scene, there was already P.D. responding. There will be further investigation today, Tuesday.
On Monday, November 24th, at 1:30 pm, the Crookston fire department responded to a call about a rotten egg smell from a homeowner on the 300th block of Grant Street. The responders used a gas monitor and found nothing; therefore, they informed the homeowner and cleared the scene.
On Monday, November 24th, at 6:26 pm, the Crookston fire department responded to an alarm activation on 100th Sergeant Street. On the scene, it was discovered to have been caused by steam from burnt food triggering it. So they reset the alarm and cleared the scene.
On Monday, November 24th, the Crookston fire department responded to an elevator alarm activation on the 100th block of Fisher. On scene, there was already P.D. responding. There will be further investigation today, Tuesday.
The Pentagon confirmed Monday that it has launched a review into Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly after receiving what it described as “serious allegations of misconduct.” The announcement follows a video released last week in which Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers urged members of the military and intelligence community to refuse unlawful directives from the Trump administration.
Defense officials said the inquiry will determine whether further steps are necessary, noting possible outcomes could include recalling Kelly — a retired Navy captain — to active duty for potential court-martial proceedings or other administrative actions. The department emphasized that the process would follow military law, adding that public comment will be limited to protect the integrity of the case.
Kelly, who spent more than 20 years in the Navy as a combat pilot and instructor before serving as a NASA astronaut, said he first learned of the investigation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s social media post. “If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” he wrote, adding, “I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.”
The lawmakers’ video in question featured Kelly alongside Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire — all veterans or former national security officials. In the clip, they told service members that “you can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders.” The message drew intense criticism from Republicans, including Hegseth, who labeled the video “despicable, reckless, and false,” arguing it undermined military discipline. The Pentagon also referenced federal statutes barring efforts to disrupt the loyalty or morale of U.S. forces.
President Trump escalated the dispute in a post on Truth Social, calling the group “traitors” and accusing them of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” before later saying he was “not threatening death” but believed the lawmakers were “in serious trouble.” Several participants in the video have since reported receiving threats, with Kelly warning that Trump’s rhetoric “could have serious, serious consequences.”
Hegseth noted that only Kelly remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Supporters, including fellow Arizona Democrat Sen. Ruben Gallego, defended him, saying Kelly has served the country honorably and was reiterating long-standing legal obligations. Kelly has maintained that the video simply reinforced the oath shared by service members, stating, “All we said is we reiterated what basically is the rule of law that members of the military should not, cannot follow illegal orders.”
A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the indictments were secured by a prosecutor who lacked lawful authority to bring them.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie found that Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan — installed after the Trump administration forced out her predecessor — was unconstitutionally appointed and therefore unable to present cases to a grand jury. Currie wrote in her 29-page ruling that “because Ms. Halligan had no lawful authority to present the indictment, I will grant Mr. Comey’s motion and dismiss the indictment without prejudice,” adding that “all actions flowing from Ms. Halligan’s defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr. Comey’s indictment, were unlawful exercises of executive power.” A similar order tossed the case against Letitia James, with the dismissals issued without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of refiling (although the statute of limitations in Comey’s case may have already expired.) The Department of Justice also can appeal to a higher court.
Halligan, a former insurance lawyer with no prior prosecutorial experience, was a member of Mr. Trump’s defense team in one of the criminal cases brought against him by former special counsel Jack Smith. Attorney General Pam Bondi tapped Halligan as interim U.S. attorney shortly after her predecessor, Erik Siebert, abruptly left the post and appointed Halligan under Section 546, the federal law that governs U.S. attorney vacancies and allows the attorney general to select an interim U.S. attorney, who can then serve for 120 days. The Trump administration has invoked that law and another measure to install temporary prosecutors in New Jersey, Nevada and Los Angeles, though three different federal judges have all found they were serving unlawfully.
Halligan pursued the indictments after career Justice Department lawyers reportedly objected, bringing charges accusing Comey of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding tied to his 2020 Senate testimony, while James had been indicted on bank and mortgage fraud allegations involving a Virginia property. Both pleaded not guilty. The judge rejected attempts by Attorney General Pam Bondi to retroactively validate Halligan’s actions, writing, “That cannot be the law.”
In a video statement, Comey said “the message has to be sent that the president of the United States cannot use the Department of Justice to target his political enemies. I’m grateful that the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence and incompetence, and a reflection of what the Department of Justice has become under Donald Trump, which is heartbreaking.”
James celebrated the ruling, saying, “I am heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country. I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day.”
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the Justice Department will appeal the decision.
Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com
Daniel Craig is back as Benoit Blanc in the upcoming Netflix filmWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment in the ‘Knives Out’ franchise from writer-director Rian Johnson.
In the trailer, viewers see Blanc declare that he is “incapable of not solving a crime,” despite being faced with “a perfectly impossible” case. This particular crime, set in an upstate New York parish, involves the murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin).
An official synopsis reads: “Wicks’ modest but devoted flock includes devout church lady Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), wary groundskeeper Sampson Holt (Thomas Haden Church), tightly wound lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington), aspiring politician Cy Draven (Daryl McCormack), town docttor Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), reclusive author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott) and concert cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny).”
At the center of the mystery is former boxer turned priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), with the cast also including Glenn Close, Thomas Haden Church, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis and Cailee Spaeny.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery arrives in theaters on November 26, and begins streaming on Netflix on December 12. Take a look at the trailer – HERE.
Netflix has released the final trailer for the fifth – and last – season of Stranger Things, set to premiere on November 26th.
The official description of the new season reads: “The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”
The new season will be released in three parts: Volume 1 on Nov. 26 (consisting of four episodes), Volume 2 on Christmas (three episodes) and The Finale on New Year’s Eve. Each will drop at 5 p.m. PT.
Back in January, co-creator Ross Duffer said about the final episodes, “We spent a full year filming this season. By the end, we’d captured over 650 hours of footage. So, needless to say, this is our biggest and most ambitious season yet. It’s like eight blockbuster movies. It’s pretty insane.”
Co-creator Matt Duffer added, “At the same time, we think it’s our most personal story. It was super intense and emotional to film, for us and for our actors. We’ve been making this show together for almost 10 years. There was a lot of crying. There was so much crying. The show means so much to all of us, and everyone put their hearts and souls into it. And we hope — and believe — that passion will translate to the screen.”
Starring in Season 5 are: Millie Bobbie Brown, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, Nell Fisher, Jack Connelly, Alex Breaux and Linda Hamilton star.
Lionsgate announced that it will releaseKill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair in theaters Dec. 5.
The Whole Bloody Affair combines 2003’s Vol. 1 and 2004’s Vol. 2 as a single film, running four hours and 18 minutes with an intermission. It originally screened in June at Tarantino’s Vista theater in Los Angeles, with additional showings added in September.
The Whole Bloody Affair removes the cliffhanger ending from 2003’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and the recap that began 2004’s Kill Bill: Vol. 2. The theatrical release will also include alternate lines, a full color version of a black and white sequence from Vol. 1 and a never-before-seen 7½-minute animated sequence.
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair stars Uma Thurman as The Bride, a former assassin left for dead by her boss and lover Bill (David Carradine). Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox and Michael Madsen star as her fellow assassins she hunts down on her way to Bill.
Tarantino said: “I wrote and directed it as one movie — and I’m so glad to give the fans the chance to see it as one movie. The best way to see ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ is at a movie theater in Glorious 70mm or 35mm. Blood and guts on a big screen in all its glory!”
See the official trailer for ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ – HERE.
Editorial credit: Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com
The Crookston School Board met on Monday, November 24 at the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.The meeting began with the addition of an agenda item, which requested approval of a music trip to the Twin Cities in March.
SCHOOL BOARD AND TEACHER UNION REACH A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT The Crookston School Board and Crookston Education Association (the teachers’ union) had mediation on Wednesday, November 19, and after a full day of mediation, they came to a tentative agreement. The agreement is a 2.3 percent increase this year (2025-26) and a 2.3 percent increase next year (2026-27). “We had a state mediator come up, and we started at 9 a.m., went to about 8 p.m., and back and forth. It was some tough sledding for both sides, and I guess they say a good agreement is when everybody goes away not completely happy,” said Crookston School Board lead negotiator Mike Theis. “So I think both sides bent and worked with each other, and we did come to a tentative agreement that we’ll go out for a union ratification vote on December 3rd. At that time, their membership will vote on what they wish to go forward with.” Theis said there were other tentative agreements besides the salary increase. “We did boost the amount that the district will pay into their health insurance, raised it by $100 for a family plan, $25 for a single plan, so we’re a little over $1,900 per month for a family plan, which is what the district will be paying per employee. We did add some additional dollars to their 403B, which is a retirement portion of it, $120 for participants,” said Theis. “And then we did some language. We gave up some language that we would have liked and compromised on others. For the first week and the last week of school, they will be available for the first 15 minutes to be able to assist with kids getting off the bus, that type of thing, welcoming kids to the school district. So we’re very happy that we came to a tentative agreement with the Crookston Education Association.“ The teachers’ union will vote on December 3, and it is expected that if they vote yes, the school board will approve the contract at their meeting on December 15. The teachers have been working without a contract this school year.
MUSIC TRIP APPROVED Crookston School District orchestra director Lori Carlson and choir director Adrienne Winger gave a presentation to the school board on a proposed music trip for 9-12 grade music students to the Twin Cities on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28. The trip will include a Minnesota Orchestra performance, a visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Chanhassen Dinner Theater performance of Guys and Dolls. The trip will also include a visit to the Mall of America. The cost per student will be approximately $200 or slightly more, depending on the number of music students who sign up for the optional trip. “So it’s going to be about $220, maybe $230, but it could be less. It all depends on how many students come,” said Choir Director Adrienne Winger. “We’re very excited that the school board has approved the trip. I think Emma Pearson, our ninth grader who’s in choir, may have helped a little bit when she stood up and explained how amazing and excited she was for this trip. So we greatly appreciate the school board approval.“ The students have already held one fundraiser with more to come. “I think we’ve been in communication about having the pancake breakfast at the Crookston Masonic Hall,” said Winger. “We will also be doing the Puffin’s Pastries, which is the spring version of the Butter Braid. Concessions at some games, possibly at the wrestling tournament. We have some amazing people who are willing to donate 20 bucks here, 20 bucks there.”
WASHINGTON SCHOOL FUTURE STILL UP IN THE AIR The school board’s decision on whether to keep Washington School open or close it is still a way off from being decided. A handful of speakers in the open forum expressed their concerns about keeping Washington School open. Elizabeth Murphy, a concerned parent, started a petition on November 14 and has garnered 463 signatures to keep the school open.Alex Koespell said it seemed like there was a lack of a plan in place. Morgan Hibma handed out a feasibility study done on Washington School a few years ago by Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc., which recommended improvements, and the probable cost was estimated to be $996,500. Crookston School District Interim Superintendent Randy Bruer said it was loud and clear that those in attendance at the public forum want the district to have concrete numbers, and they heard and appreciated all the feedback. “The school board proposed to look at the Washington School closing. It hasn’t been approved at this point, but they need to hear the results and listen to the people. They need to take into consideration those things, all the way from class sizes to the costs, an assessment of the present school,” said Bruer. “What is it going to cost to make some of those adjustments, those priority needs that have to be fixed, and those that don’t have to be fixed right away. Class sizes, nutrition, space, and special education needs all need to come into play here. What are the costs for some of those things? What’s some data? We need to find that out first.” A decision on Washington School won’t be made for some time, as they will gather more information and numbers in the coming months.
SANDFORD POWER TRAINING CONTRACT APPROVED FOR 2026 Several Crookston High School students, including Chloe Boll, Ashlyn Bailey spoke in favor of continuing the Sandford Training contract after its first full year wraps up on December 31, 2025. Both students said it was a huge part of their training and have actually worked with Coach Dan Rooney for several years, which is part of the reason why both will be playing college sports next year. The number two-ranked wrestler in the state at 152 pounds, Gavyn Hlucny, also said the program should be kept. The Crookston High School Activities Director and Dean of Students stated that he has secured donations of $10,000 from the Crookston Pirate Boosters and the Crookston Baseball Association, as well as $2,500 from the Crookston Wrestling Association. He is waiting to hear back from the Crookston Blue Line Club, and the school received $5,000 from the Crookston Youth Basketball Association to help fund this year’s contract. Pederson also said that they will be charging students for the Summer Weights program to help offset the cost of the 10-week program. 9-12 graders will pay $325 for 4 to 5 days a week. Sessions will be 90 minutes. 7-8 graders will pay $225 for 4 days a week. Sessions will be 60 minutes. 5-6 graders will pay $125 for 2 days a week. Sessions will be 45 minutes. The fees would bring in an estimated $30,125.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION- The program’s cost in 2026 is $44,000. Summer Weight fees – $30,125 Donations – $22,500 School District contracts $7250 Money raised – $59,875
Pederson said the program during the school year will stay the same, with weights before school, and Coach Rooney will work with teams after school. “It’ll be a lot of the same. Most of our work for Coach Rooney is during season, our kids are working out twice a week, different exercises, different weights that they’ll lift around and throw around,” said Pederson. “In the summer, it’ll be some stuff utilized on our turf, agility stuff, and then also weightlifting in our weight room.” If you would like to donate to the training program or help cover the cost for a child who may not have the funds, you can contact Pederson or Corky Reynolds. “Reach out to us, me, or Corky Reynolds. He’s our Pirate Booster president. But yeah, this isn’t possible without the generous donations of our clubs within the Crookston community,” said Pederson. “They understand the importance of the weight room as well, and they’re helping us boostour program and start our program with the added cost for our student athletes now.”
Pederson said he received a call from the Climax-Fisher Booster Clubs and said they would be interested in covering some of the cost if their student-athletes could come and work out in the summer as well and the board seemed to like that idea to help with the costs.
ELECTRIC BUS GRANT APPROVED FOR THE CROOKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Bruer informed the board that the district’s grant application for two electric school buses has been approved. The district will now determine if it is suitable for them, and the grant includes funds to help cover the costs of installing charging stations and other necessary items. “We know that it’s cold up here, and they don’t last as long. However, from what we’ve heard, we can offer some in-town routes, which are a short distance, and we’d receive the necessary miles to work with those buses. The rule is that you have to use them at least three days a week. So that’s something we could probably work with,” said Superintendent Bruer. “I know we’re up for buying buses every year because buses wear out. And perhaps this is a good way to pay very little for buses, as they are pretty expensive. And they’re the new generation of electric buses. That’s why we pursued that grant, to see where it could take us.” Bruer said the board will need to gather more information before deciding whether to accept the $900,000-plus grant. “Now the board will have to listen to some more information to see how far we want to do this, but we’re in the initial startup stages,” said Bruer. “There have been other schools around us, from Moorhead and Red Lake. Red Lake is also far north, where it’s cold. So let’s give it a try and see what we can come up with. If it doesn’t work for the district, we don’t need to take it.”
The grant would cover about 95 percent of the project and electric buses take over a year to acquire. “There is some expense. We are approved for 95% of that purchase, which is quite a bit. If you look at electric school buses, they’re in the neighborhood of $400,000 for one of those. However, we do need to install some charging stations. You know, that’s probably going to be another grant through Otter Tail,” said Superintendent Bruer. “We’ll pay for some of it, but not all of it. So there are some things we need to do. And these buses don’t come for at least 18 months from now. So it’s a little bit in the future.”
CROOKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT/UMC FACILITY RENTAL CONTRACT TABLED The Crookston School District and the University of Minnesota Crookston are considering approving a mutual lease/rental contract for the use of each entity’s facilities, including KROX Radio Stadium, gym, classroom, and wellness center. Everything in the contract looked good, but the board wanted to ask for more money if UMC uses KROX Radio Stadium since it is a brand new track, artificial turf and the best facility in northwest Minnesota. UMC has used it for softball practice and baseball practice and will also look to use it for soccer, and other events as needed due to weather. The School Board will increase the price from an all day rental from $125 to more, in the ball park of $300. It will be brought back for approval at the next meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA The consent agenda was unanimously approved, including the regular and special meeting minutes from October 27 and 31. The current bills in the amount of $670,411.18. The personnel items of employment with Emma Mekkes and Donald Braam as paraprofessionals at Highland School, and the acceptance of $10,307.42 of donations. The donations are $5,000 from the Crookston Pirate Boosters for the HUDL film/stats program for the Pirate teams, $2,607.42 from the Red River Valley Co-op Power for Dollars for scholars program, $1,600 from the Polk County Public Health for the SHIP Program (Statewide Health Improvement Partnership) for the Safe Routes to Schools Initiatives, $1,000 from the Crookston Pirate Boosters for Pirate Wrestling headgear, and $100 from the Highway 2 Cruisers to help students in need for the Nutritional Program.
NEXT MEETING The next scheduled school board meeting is Monday, December 15, at 5:00 p.m., with the Truth in Taxation Hearing scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on December 15.
CHS Orchestra Director Lori Carlson, and Choir Director Adrienne Winger
Jerome “Jerry” Knutson, 84, a resident of Crookston, MN passed away on November 22, 2025, at his home.
Jerome was born on March 23, 1941, in Centerville, South Dakota, the son of Lauren and Bernice (Dwyer) Knutson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, grew up in rural South Dakota, and graduated from Centerville High School in 1959. He attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963. In 1964 he received his Master of Science Education degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Then he taught high school biology in Wayne Nebraska, for three years; and he was a biology laboratory assistant while pursuing his Ph.D. at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan from 1967-1969.
He married Mary Lynne Swiden in Sioux Falls, SD in 1968, and they were blessed with two daughters, Jill and Janna. In the fall of 1969, he joined the biology faculty at the University of Minnesota-Crookston and taught students for 35 years. During his tenure at UMC, he also taught health science students at Northland Technical College in East Grand Forks, MN. For 27 years his summers were spent as a teacher and later director of the Crookston Migrant School for children of local Hispanic migrant sugar beet workers. In 1980, he accepted a United Kingdom Reciprocal Exchange opportunity and brought his family to England where he taught at Berkshire College of Agriculture.
He will be remembered by many for his notes/expressions of appreciation, congratulations, and support extended to family, friends, and students. He was grateful, humbled, and honored by acknowledgements he received including Outstanding Biology Teacher Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers (1976); Partners in Education award from Crookston School District (2003); Amy Hirst Volunteer Award from Polk County Independent Republicans (1992); Distinguished Teacher Award (1990); and Torch and Shield Award from the University of Minnesota (2004); Ox Cart Award from the City of Crookston (1977); 25 years of Service Award from the MN Migrant Education Program (1993); UMC Homecoming Parade Marshal selection by UMC Alumni Association (2006); Demonstration of Excellence in Technical Education medal from EGF Technical Institute (2001); and several awards from UMC students including Booster of the Year (1978), Most Supportive of Students (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004), Outstanding Teacher (1977, 2001), Outstanding Contributions to International Students (1983), Creative Use of Technology (2003), Builder of Diversity Award (2004), and most recently the University of Minnesota Presidents Award for Outstanding Service (2024).
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, UMC Teambackers, and the Crookston Collector’s Club; and he was a supporter of the Golden Link Senior Center, Crookston Pirates Fine Arts, Crookston Music League, and Crookston Community Theater. Some of his favorite leisure time activities included photography, painting, playing piano, traveling in the winter, caring for his flower gardens, and entertaining friends. He was a kind father and grandfather who encouraged his family to be optimistic and look for the good in others. He will be greatly missed for his incredible kindness, always choosing joy, and heart of gold.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lynne; his parents Lauren and Bernice; and wife’s parents Alick and Mildred Swiden.
He is survived by his two daughters; Jill (David) Keppers, and Janna (Sam) Fischer, four grandsons; Alexander, Jonathan, Sev, and Viggo, brother; Leroy (Judy) Knutson, sister; LaVonne Isaak, brothers-in-law; LaDell (Phyllis) Swiden and Mike (Teresa) Swiden, sisters-in-law; Linda (Ray) Harris and LaVonne (Fred) Lorenzen; several nieces and nephews; UMC graduates; and friends in the USA, Canada, and England.
Funeral services will be held on Monday December 1st at Trinity Lutheran Church, Crookston, MN at 1:00pm. Visitation starting at 11:30am.
His daughters could not walk down the street without someone stopping them and telling them that Jerry was the best teacher they ever had. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if donations were made to the newly created Jerry Knutson Biology and Health Sciences Scholarship at the University of Minnesota-Crookston. (checks payable to U of M Foundation, with Jerry Knutson Scholarship in the memo line.)
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