Dean LeRoy Knudson, age 84, of Westbrook MN passed away Saturday, January 21, 2023 at his home in Westbrook, MN, under the care of Hospice of Murray County. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 808 Adams Avenue, Westbrook, MN, with Pastor Paul Drees officiating. Visitation will take place 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at the Westbrook Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Burial will be in the Westbrook Cemetery at a later date. Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Dean was born August 22, 1938 to Darrell and Irene (Bakken) Knudson at the family farm in Ann Township, Cottonwood County, MN. He was a graduate of Westbrook High School, Westbrook, MN and of Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD. Dean excelled in athletics both as a Westbrook Wildcat and as an Augustana Viking, playing football, basketball, and track in high school as well as college. On July 1, 1961, Dean was united in marriage to Judy Rykhus at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook, MN. They were blessed with three children: Thomas, Mark, and Lynn. Dean taught physical education in northwest Iowa following his graduation from Augustana, and then worked for the International Harvester Company. In 1971 he and his brother, Robert, purchased and then operated the International Harvester farm equipment dealership in Marshall, MN. In 1985 the family moved to an acreage outside of Westbrook, MN, where he continued in farm equipment sales for Seeger and Boeck until his retirement. However, retirement did not agree with Dean, and he spent the next several years working as a crop adjuster. Dean was an actively involved community member, both in Marshall and Westbrook, making lifelong friendships everywhere he went. Dean had a gift for connecting with strangers, whether at his grandchildren’s many school events, a hotel breakfast bar, or in a clinic waiting room – he could strike up a conversation with anyone. As a result, he had many “small world” stories to share. Dean was also a skilled woodworker and has left the family with many beautiful pieces of furniture and other projects. One of his greatest joys was sharing his wood shop with his grandchildren, who are blessed to have wonderful memories of the acreage outside of Westbrook. He enjoyed watching college sports, as well as the Minnesota Vikings.

Dean is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judy Knudson; children: Mark Knudson, Walnut Grove, MN and Lynn (Kelly) Ullrich, Granite Falls, MN; grandchildren: Daniel Knudson, Jade Ullrich, Thomas (Amber) Knudson, Jaci Ullrich, Irene Swanson, Timothy Swanson, Theodore Swanson, and Jacob Ullrich; great granddaughter Trinidi Knudson; sisters Joan Monahan, and Mary (James) Palmquist; brother Robert (Corlys) Knudson; along with many nieces and nephews and other extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents Darrell and Irene Knudson; parents-in-law Peder and Olga Rykhus; sister Linda Riquelmy; son Thomas Knudson.