Duaine Stanley Knutson, 77, of Halstad, MN, died Sunday, May 29, 2011, at Hillsboro (ND) Medical Center.

Duaine was born April 29, 1934, at home in Nielsville, MN, to John and Mabel (Iverson) Knutson. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Petri Lutheran Church, Nielsville. Duane graduated from Climax (MN) High School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1958 and was stationed in Alaska.

Duaine married Rose Pelerine Mickelson on December 9, 1962, in Bemidji, MN. They and their 4 children owned and operated a café in Shelly, MN for five years. Duane attended refrigeration school in Moorhead, MN and opened his own business, Duane and Son Refrigeration and Appliance, in Halstad. He enjoyed his work and getting to know people in the surrounding communities. Weekends were his favorite time, spending time at Shell Lake, fishing for walleye on their pontoon with friends and family, and meeting new friends from around the country. He was a member of the Moorhead American Legion Post #21, Fargo Moose Lodge, and Halstad City Council. Duaine entered the Halstad Living Center in 2003.

Duaine is survived by two daughters, Denise (Bruce) Hagen, Air, ND, and Darcy (Jon) Kragness, Farmington, MN, step children, Maureen Sharpe, Grand Forks, ND, Kathy Mickelson, Mesa, AZ, Ken (Kathy) Mickelson, Halstad, MN, Robert (Ivy) Mickelson, Dent, MN, 11 grandchildren: Mylee Lavold, Marci Lavold, Shane Sharpe, Kelly Sharpe, Brant Mickelson, Brandon Mickelson, Brandon Bosch, Lucy Hagen, Jack Hagen, Jonah Kragness, Kate Kragness, 6 great grandchildren: Abby Sharpe, Matt Sharpe, Jesse Little, Sydney Schertzer, Gavin Nelson, and Aiden Nelson, two sisters, Mavis (Vernon) Haugstad, Cummings, ND, and Sonja (Paul) Beltz, Moorhead, MN, and one brother, John (Sharon) Knutson, Moorhead, MN. He was preceded in death by Rose Knutson, his parents, two sisters, Beverly Martinson and Joanne Haugen, one grandson, and two brothers-in-law.

Memorial Service: 1:00pm, Thursday, June 2, 2011, at Fredrikson Valley Funeral Home, Halstad, MN

Visitation: Thursday from 12 noon until the service time at the funeral home.

Burial: St. Petri Lutheran Cemetery, rural Nielsville, MN.