Sheldon Knutson, 75, died on Monday, December 19, 2011 at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN from a massive stroke. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Greg Schram and Rev. Raynard Huglen officiating. Burial will follow in Telemarken Cemetery, Kratka Township, Pennington County, MN. Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Wednesday. Sheldon Jerome Knutson was born on October 24, 1936 to Knute S. and Gerda (Hegrenes) Knutson in Thief River Falls, MN. He was baptized on November 22, 1936 and confirmed at Telemarken Lutheran Church in 1951 by Rev. E.O. Sabo. He attended Brunkaberg Country School and then Meadowlark District 68 Country School, before attending town school in Goodridge, where he graduated from Goodridge High School in 1954. Sheldon was united in marriage to Eloda Mae Grover on July 24, 1965 at Zion Lutheran Church in Warroad, MN. They made their home for almost all of their married life in Kratka, Township. He served six years in the Air National Guard stationed out of Fargo, ND. When he was younger he raised turkeys, pigs, and rabbits. When Sheldon was 20 years old he bought the Hartz Store in Goodridge, MN. For many years, Sheldon farmed in Kratka Township. Sheldon worked for Hartz Wholesalers for 35 years. LB Hartz recognized Sheldon's skills at numeric calculation and appreciated his conservative decision making abilities, naming him as his successor for the Presidency of LB Hartz Wholesale Groceries, upon his retirement. Sheldon retired from LB Hartz in 1991, leaving the company economically healthy. Sheldon was one of the biggest Minneapolis Moline Tractor buffs in the United States. He and his wife Eloda belonged to the Minneapolis Moline Collectors Club and would attend their annual events. Sheldon built a museum on the farm for his collection of tractors, where he spent thousands of hours restoring them. He recently sold his tractor collection and the last tractor left on Tuesday, the day before he suffered his stroke. Sheldon was an active member at Telemarken Lutheran Church from his birth until it closed in 2005 and he then transferred to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. He also served as sexton of the Telemarken Cemetery until his death. He belonged to Lions Club in Goodridge and loved to have breakfast at 6AM in Goodridge every morning. Sheldon was an active hunter and fisher. He loved spending time with his family and friends every fall deer hunting. He enjoyed spending time at the cabin near Hayes Lake where they would snowmobile, pick blueberries, and spend time enjoying God's nature. Sheldon had green thumbs, especially enjoyed raising roses and gladiolas. He planted over 400 gladiolas last year. He kept an immaculate lawn. Sheldon also loved dogs and raised many Golden Labs throughout his life. He is survived by his wife of 46 years Eloda Knutson, Goodridge, MN, one sister Gayle (Earl) Mathison, St. Cloud, MN, 10 brothers and sisters in law: Paul (Karen) Grover, Mountain Grove, MO, Lilyan (Harvey) Lindstrom, Monticello, MN, Bernard (Bonnie) Grover, Minnetonka, MN, Jack (Kay) Grover, Clebune, TX, Neil (Arlene) Grover, Browerville, MN, Esther Heath, Warroad, MN, Richard (Carol Lynne) Grover, Quito, Ecuador, Kenneth (Sandra) Grover, Centennial, CO, Connie (Paul) Wold, Viking, MN, Gary Grover, Warroad, MN, brother in law Clarence Smith, Minneapolis, MN, several nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Sheldon was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ruby Smith, brother in law Wilford Heath, two sisters in law: Betty Grover and Charlene Grover and baby nephew Smith. Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com ORGANIST: Wanda Vigness SOLOIST: Gina and Kirsten Elstad SELECTIONS: Den Store Hvide Flok, My God and I CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: How Great Thou Art, Day by Day CASKETBEARERS: Erik Mathison, Lowell Thorson, Hal Waale, Duane Lindblom, Tim Mickelson, Gary Johnson