Dallas F. Knudson
Dallas Froholm (Wan-
berg) Knudson, of West
Fargo, and formerly from
Towner, passed away on
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015,
surrounded by family, in
the Sanford Palliative
Care Unit in Fargo.
Dallas was born at
home on Sept. 11, 1933,
to Rev. R.T. and Olga
(Moe) Wanberg in Town-
er. She graduated from
Towner High School in
1952 and graduated from
Luther College in De-
corah, Iowa, with a BA
majoring in English and
biology, in 1956. Dallas
completed additional gra-
duate studies at NDSU,
UND, the University of
Oslo, Norway, and a fel-
lowship at the John E.
Anderson Graduate
School of Management,
UCLA, Los Angeles.
Dallas taught high
school science in Westby,
Wis., from 1956 to 1960.
In 1960, she bought a
one-way plane ticket to
Norway to begin her
Scandinavian adventure.
She taught and later be-
came principal of the
American Esso School in
Stavanger, Norway, and
Goteborg, Sweden. A
sense of adventure guid-
ed Dallas while overseas,
including working at a
ski resort, hitch hiking in
England, Scotland and
Wales, and touring
Spain.
Upon receiving news
that her mother was ill,
Dallas returned to Town-
er in the fall of 1964 to
care for her. Dallas mar-
ried Warner Knudson
June 18, 1965, and resid-
ed on the family farm
near Berwick. They cele-
brated their 50th anniver
sary with friends and
family in June 2015.
Dallas taught accelerat-
ed English at Minot High
until the birth of their
three children: Alana,
Alyssa and Chad. In
1971, Dallas became a
Head Start Project Direc-
tor, serving nine coun-
ties, until her retirement
in 1998. She developed a
home-based model for
rural preschool children
that became a national
model for implementa-
tion. When Dallas retired
from Head Start, she
worked for the Minot
School System as a grant
writer until 2001. She de-
voted her life to support-
ing others in finding
resources and opportuni-
ties to achieve personal
and professional goals.
Dallas was active in
numerous organizations
throughout her life in-
cluding: national and re-
gional Head Start boards,
Sons of Norway, charter
member of Daughters of
Norway, Rugby Com-
munity Concert Board of
Directors, Darners Club,
Thrivent Board, Silver-
Haired Congress (state
and national), NW Area
Girl Scout Council Board
of Directors, Minot Com-
mission on Aging, State
Aging Commission, Tri
County Nutrition Board
of Directors, and was ap-
pointed to several com-
mittees serving children,
families and the elderly.
Dallas was also dedicated
to church-related activi-
ties and served in leader-
ship positions and as or-
ganist for many years.
She enjoyed documenting
local and family histories
as well as assisting others
with their genealogies. It
was particularly impor-
tant to her to maintain
her connection to her
Norwegian heritage and
relatives. Dallas and
Warner volunteered for
the U.S. Park Service and
served as guides on Am-
trak during the summers.
Traveling, seeing dear
friends and family, and
great adventures guided
their fun together.
Dallas is survived by:
her husband, Warner,
West Fargo; children,
Alana Knudson (Roland
Gamache), Rockville,
Md., Alyssa Knudson
Arntsen (Erik), Duluth,
Minn., and Chad Knud-
son (Becky), West Fargo;
grandchildren, Emma,
Anna and Ella Arntsen,
Duluth, Ben and Rachel
Knudson, West Fargo,
Patrick, Brian and Col-
leen Gamache, Indianapo
lis, and Jack and Emily
Lin, West Fargo; brother,
Larrie Wanberg, Solvang,
Calif.; and sisters-in-law,
Betty Peterson (Pete), Ro-
chester, Minn., and Jean
Baglien (Terry), Placentia,
Calif. She is also sur-
vived by numerous
nieces, nephews and
cousins.
She was preceded in
death by: her parents; an
infant brother; sister,
Nordis Wanberg; brother,
Richard Wanberg; and a
sister-in-law, Bjorg Wan-
berg.
Memorials: In lieu of
flowers, please consider a
memorial to Metigoshe
Ministries, Bottineau, or
the Sanford Palliative
Care Unit, Fargo.
A celebration of her
life will be: 2:30 p.m. Fri-
day, Dec. 11, at Eventide
Sheyenne Crossings in
West Fargo.
A prayer service will
be: 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec.
12, at Zion Lutheran
Church, in Towner.
Arrangements have
been provided by West
Funeral Home, West Far-
go, and Anderson Fu-
neral Home of Rugby/
Towner.