Milford H Knutson

Milford Henry Knutson, age 83, of Cedaredge Colorado, passed away on May 9th, 2020 at Horizons Care Center in Eckert, Colorado, with his family by his side.
Private burial services will be held in Cedaredge Cemetery at a future date. Pastor Paul Rosin of All Saints Lutheran Church will be officiating, and arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home in Delta, Colorado.
Milford Knutson was born May 10, 1936, in Ellsworth, Iowa. He was the youngest son of Manly and Olive Knutson. He spent his early years on the family farm in Ellsworth, and, following his graduation from high school in 1953, attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He received his bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf in 1957, majoring in English and History. He entered Harvard Law School in the fall of 1957, and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1960. Following law school, Milford entered the US Air Force as a Judge Advocate. He had a long and distinguished career, serving state-side in multiple locations to include Montana, Missouri, and Alabama, as well as at Danang Air Base (AB) in Vietnam and Ramstein AB in Germany. He attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AB, Alabama in 1969 and then was appointed an Instructor and Associate Professor of Law at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). He subsequently served as the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) at USAFA, and then the SJA at Clark AB in the Republic of Philippines. His last assignment was SJA at the Alaskan Air Command in Elmendorf Alaska, and he retired there as a Colonel in 1986 after 26 years of active duty service. He received the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct on July 11, 1986. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Milford formed a private law partnership in Anchorage, Alaska, and remained busy with that endeavor until his second retirement in 1996.
Milford married Elinor Erickson on June 7,1957 in Jewell, Iowa, an adjacent town to Ellsworth. They met in high school, and celebrated 62 years of marriage in June of 2019. The couple had 3 children, Steve, John and Sarah. Following the many moves related to Milford’s military career, they resided in Anchorage, Alaska for 24 years until relocating to Cedaredge, Colorado in 2006. Milford was a long-standing member of the Lutheran Church and was active in liturgy, music performance, and church leadership. He was a member of the Sons of Norway, and many other community organizations. He had a lifelong enjoyment of hunting, hiking, skiing, and travel. He and his family were fortunate to enjoy many gatherings together, particularly in Crested Butte, Colorado and on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Milford is preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother. He is survived by his wife Elinor of Cedaredge, Colorado, his sons: Steve Knutson and John (Sara) Knutson, also of Cedaredge, and his daughter Sarah (Timothy) Greydanus of Ridgway, Colorado. He also leaves his six grandchildren: Logan and Benjamin Greydanus and Lars, Lydia, Garth, and Lance Knutson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials instead may be given to All Saints Lutheran Church, 20101 Deer Creek Road, Austin, CO 81410.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and crematory.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at taylorfuneralservice.com