Funeral services for Otto J. Knudson, 77, were held Wednesday July 1, 2009, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Cranfills Gap, with Pastors Gordon Johnson and Marie Herrenschmidt officiating and personal comments by Wayne Rohne. Burial was in the St. Olaf (Rock Church) Cemetery near Cranfills Gap.

Knudson was born Jan. 13, 1932, in Pampa, the only son of Otto J. and Christina Carlson Knudson,Sr. He passed away on June 28, 2009, in Goodall-Witcher Hospital in Clifton.

He moved with his parents to their farm west of Meridian. He attended and graduated from Meridian High School in 1949. He then graduated from Clifton College and later Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, with the class of 1953. After completing graduate studies in history at Sul Ross State University, he began a career in education where he devoted 38 years teaching, including more than 25 years as a psychology professor at the Victoria College.

He married Wanda Jean McCaleb on March 30, 1961, in Ozona.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Otto J. Knudson and Christina Carlson Knudson; and a daughter, Rebecca Knudson.

Survivors include his wife, Wanda McCaleb Knudson; daughter, Kricka Knudson, brothers-in-law, George Tillery (Doris), and Don McCaleb (Patricia); and sisters-in-law, Lavern Casbeer and Helen Smith.

Pallbearers included Owen Carlson, Larry Davis, Don McCaleb, Jr., Terry Samples, Ronnie Ticer, and Douglas Tillery. Honorary pallbearers were Lyndon Carlson, Jim Davis, Ray Piner, and David Tyssen.

Memorials may be made to the Ringness House Restoration Fund, c/o Betty Tindell, 7010# CR#309, Cranfills Gap, Texas, 76637 or St. Olaf (Rock Church) Restoration Fund, 410 Meridian St., Cranfills Gap, Texas, 76637.

Lawson Funeral Home in Meridian was in charge of arrangements.