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Robert Knute Knutson, 82, of Mooresville, passed away on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. He was born on August 4, 1935 in Great Falls, Montana, to the late Knute Christian and Fern Cheetham Knutson. Dr. K, as he was known, was reared on a wheat farm in Montana. He was a proud patriot and veteran, serving his country honorably in the US Navy. While in the Navy he came to know Jesus Christ as Savior and resolved to dedicate his life to spreading the message of the Gospel. He became a pastor and a missionary, establishing Lanakila Baptist Church and Schools in Waipahu, Hawaii. From that church and subsequently as professor of Missions at Liberty University and then as pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Anaheim, California, pastors and missionaries were trained, sent out, and churches were planted around the world with emphasis in the South Pacific Islands. In the course of his life he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ on six continents. He earned degrees from Baptist Bible College, Pepperdine University and Chaminade University. As a husband and father Dr. K was present, faithful and constant, loving his wife as Christ loves his church, rearing his children to know and serve the Lord. His many talents, abilities and interests – preacher, teacher, educator, builder, mechanic, carpenter, printer, fisherman, and traveler, were dedicated to and used by God for his purposes throughout his servant-leader life. He took his young family on trips to national parks teaching them to appreciate creation and the Creator. As a professor, on snow days he would show up in the university parking lot to help students de-ice their cars. In his fifties he took mission teams to American Samoa and led the remodeling of a hotel, turning it into a school. A decade later found him covered in paint, spackle and sawdust as he built a nursery for the comfort of the mothers at his church. In his 70's he was pounding nails, building ramps and decks for people with disabilities. He organized travel experiences for the fun of being together in new places with friends and loved ones. He was happy hiking a glacier or mowing on his John Deere, preaching to a crowd or mentoring just one. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, LeRoy Knutson; sisters, Marilyn Gossack, Ruth Brumwell. He is survived by his loving wife, Diantha Sexton Knutson; children, Pennie Hatcher (David) of Manaus, Brazil, Michael Knutson (Tanya) of Huntersville, North Carolina; grandchildren, Max and Julia Knutson; sisters, Shirley Johnson of Great Falls, Montana and Betty Pearson of Vista, California. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at Trinity Baptist Church, Mooresville, North Carolina, with Dr. Brad Harrison, Jose Esquibel, D.Min. and Jon Konnerup, D.Min., officiating. Burial with military honors will be held at 2:00 PM at Salisbury National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Dr. K’s lifelong passion, missions. You may do so at, West Amazon Missions, P.O. Box 396, Ochlocknee, GA 31773-0396. Donations may also be made in grateful appreciation to Serenity House of Huntersville, 14108 Stumptown Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the Knutson family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.

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Robert Knute Knutson

August 4, 1935 - October 3, 2017