After a full life of public service, North Dakota’s maverick in blue and white striped overalls, a man ahead of his time, the Democratic-NPL prairie populist who lived by the tenet, “We believe in social and economic justice for all and special privileges for none,” Byron Knutson, passed away with age-related dementia at 96 in Bismarck, N.D., December 6, 2025, surrounded by family.

Byron was born November 9, 1929, Brinsmade, N.D., to Peter and Ruth (Westrum) Knutson. He grew up in Harlow, N.D., where his mother’s life of service—operating the post office and “telephone central” from her home—influenced him, developing his own passion to serve. As a boy wanting to be a minister, with multiple ties draped around his neck, Byron would orate from a wooden crate pulpit, “blessing” visitors at his home, “preaching” about the need to be good to the neighbors.

Byron graduated high school in 1948 at Benson County Agricultural and Training School in Maddock, N.D., with FFA leadership positions. He completed the fall quarter at North Dakota Agricultural College, Fargo, in 1948. In 1949 he began a 20-year career as a depot agent and telegrapher with the Soo Line Railroad, serving 23 depots in North Dakota (permanent positions in Norma, Baker, Harlow, Rogers, and Moffit-Braddock) and 12 in Minnesota.

In 1955, Byron brought North Dakota its first Babe Ruth Little League, the “Pioneer League,” for Harlow and the surrounding communities. Byron led the fundraising effort to build Harlow’s VFW Hall and in 1955, became the first Commander of the Robert Tovsrud VFW Post 757. Byron helped organize the Fishlake Wildlife Club (1956), Butte Valley Farmers Union youth programs (1957), Benson County Young Democrats (1956), Benson County Farmers Union (1963), and Iowa Farmers Union (1963-64).

Byron’s neighborhood became the nation when, on his birthday, November 9, 1951, he was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps serving two years—eight months in Korea. Promoted to sergeant, his tour of duty ended November 9, 1953, honorably discharged with medals for serving the United States, the Korean War, and the United Nations. He returned to North Dakota, resuming Soo Line employment.

Byron was fortunate in what is referred to as “the forgotten war,” that his community, family, and neighbors provided him support and encouragement to advance opportunities that would positively influence the rest of his life as he said, “There was no forgetting the piles of rows of bodies seen after a night of senseless fighting, shaking with fear as the earth trembled and sharp metal plummeted to earth by his trench where he was hiding as he watched the crackling, sharp-lit sky that some might describe as a 4th of July celebration.”

In 1965, Byron’s interest in ministry came full circle when he was influenced by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Byron and one other North Dakotan participated in the historic Selma to Montgomery, Ala., voting rights march in 1956, led by King. Byron knew it was his responsibility to help secure that right for his fellow Marines who were Black as while they had the right to fight and die alongside Byron, did not have the right to vote.

When Bernice Hofstad organized for North Dakota Farmers Union in Harlow, she was told to contact Byron Knutson. Little did Bernice know; Byron’s best friend’s mother was scheming to find him a wife. Bernice went to the Soo Line Depot in Baker and found him sporting blue and white striped overalls and a railroad cap. And that was the start of something big! Byron and Bernice were married May 15, 1966, at Trinity Lutheran Church on the Hofstad farm near Ambrose, N.D. Byron transferred to Rogers, while Bernice was North Dakota Farmers Union youth director in Jamestown. The couple attended Valley City State University and the University of North Dakota, graduating with bachelor’s degrees and starting on master’s studies. In 1971, receiving scholarships, they traveled to Norway to study the country’s language, school system and political structure. Daughter, Rebecca, born October 17, 1967, joined them with daughter Harmony born June 1, 1972.

Believing many conditions could be improved through legislation, Byron sought political office in North Dakota. He was elected to the House of Representatives (Benson County, 1958 and 1960) and served four-year terms as Insurance Commissioner (1976) and Labor Commissioner (1986), the only member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party elected to that office. Byron also ran for Public Service Commissioner (1974), Labor Commissioner (1982), Secretary of State (1984), and Labor Commissioner (1990).

Byron brought his strong handshake, progressive prairie populist ideals, grassroots style to campaigning and the political ring. He wasn’t afraid to challenge party-endorsed candidates if he felt he was the stronger candidate, ran his campaigns with little paid media, traveling the state in a used car to meet voters, and stopping for interviews at any newsroom he could find, with friends opening their homes providing him with a place to stay. A bargain hunter who appreciated great quality and didn’t mind if it was second hand, Byron took his 1976 oath of office in a sports coat he bought for 75 cents! The popular blue and white “Knutson Can Win” campaign buttons are now vintage.

Byron’s maverick approach had his opponents—sometimes those in his own party and those he worked side-by-side for and with—worried, as more than one effort was mounted to defeat him, and the media profiled him at a high level.

One of the toughest challenges and at the same time, a shining time in Byron’s political career was in 1978. As Insurance Commissioner, Byron introduced Measure 4 to help address the high costs of health care insurance for North Dakotans. Passage of the initiated measure would have authorized a comprehensive review of health care costs by the legislature with the goals of implementing local control, enlarging state oversight of health insurance providers to keep premiums affordable, and altering the makeup of the North Dakota Health Council. The opposition outspent the campaign, including $1 million from out-of-state, to mischaracterize the measure, causing it to fail. Measure 4 drew national media attention as Byron became known as the first person in the United States to try to institute a plan to provide single-payer universal health insurance.

After Byron's elected service, he and Bernice continued to devote their lives to political causes and issues they felt were important. In 2009, Byron and Bernice visited congressional members in Washington, D.C., urging them to support the Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed into law by President Obama March 2010. In 2011, the couple received the first Governor Arthur Link and Grace Link Award for Lifetime Achievement from the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, an honor they were proud to receive. The Links and the Knutsons were close friends. Byron was at the Links' home the night of the ACA vote. As they watched the votes come in, Art proclaimed to Byron, “We’ve finally done it!” The 219-212 senate vote illustrates Byron’s often-repeated statement, “One vote makes all the difference.” While conversations continue in states and nationally about the challenges individuals, families and employers face due to escalating insurance costs, passage of the ACA has helped.

Byron and Bernice mobilized robust efforts supporting Harmony’s work in North Dakota (Heidi for Governor, 2000), traveling to Virginia (Mark Warner for Governor, 2001), South Dakota (Jim Abbott for Governor, 2002), and Washington (Don Barbieri for Congress, 2004); and Rebecca’s work as the Kerry Campaign for President state director (2004), her campaigns for Fargo School Board, 2014 and 2018 (elected) and 2022. They also volunteered for Tim Mahoney’s campaign for Fargo City Commissioner (2005) and Fargo Mayor (2015), Montana Sen. Jon Tester’s campaign (2018) and numerous other local, state, and federal campaigns, including efforts for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. Byron and Bernice regularly attended North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party and North Dakota Farmers Union conventions.

Byron's dedication to improving others' lives continues to be recognized following his death. The North Dakota AFL-CIO 67th Constitutional Convention passed a resolution honoring Byron for his "legacy of fighting for civil rights by working to protect and advance the gains won by the civil rights movement," and "his dedication to North Dakota's workers, and all of his many accomplishments as an important part of our history and a guiding light to our future." And, in 2026, on behalf of Democrats across the entire country, the Democratic National Committee adopted a memorial resolution honoring Byron Knutson for his six decades of service to the Democratic-NPL Party, his distinguished public service, and his lifelong commitment to civil rights, workers, and consumers.

As much as Byron was known for his political work, he was known for his love of dancing, which he most enjoyed when the two were combined, or at a family wedding, a local fraternal lodge or area polka fests. Byron was a night owl and enjoyed time in his home office surrounded by political memorabilia and family keepsakes. With the turntable on, tapping his toes and humming to his favorite records, he’d peruse his library of books, newspapers, mailings, and magazines. It was not uncommon for Bernice and the girls to join him for a little dance, and it is Byron who instilled in Rebecca and Harmony a love for music and dance, showing them his fine ways of a good waltz, two-step and polka.

Participating in political and social justice causes Byron and Bernice supported were regular family activities. Weekend plans often involved political meetings, phone banking, letter stuffing and door-to-door. Byron felt it was important for girls and women to learn to study, speak their own views and be involved in political decisions. One family “vacation” was a trip to Saskatchewan, Canada, to research their health care system. The family would watch and discuss the Sunday news programs together and conversations around the dining room table focused on current events, inspiring his daughters to pursue careers in political and philanthropic efforts.

Byron stayed physically active throughout his life. While spinning Bernice on the dance floor was a priority, he also enjoyed creating a beautiful landscape and he would spend hours planting flowers and manicuring the lawn for neighbors and visitors to enjoy. Even during the winter months, he would walk from home to his capitol office, preferring the outdoors to driving. Winter weekends Byron would enjoy ice skating trips with his daughters, and he introduced them to cross-country skiing. It was always a good time for a family popcorn night, ice cream and one of Bernice’s Scandinavian baked delicacies, pie, and tea. A card game of rummy, checkers, a good Prairie Public television program and kitchen dancing would oftentimes ensue.

Byron loved baseball! In 2009, he took in game 5 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies with Harmony. Byron was also drawn to baseball through his relative, Wes Westrum of the New York Giants. In 2013, Byron returned to Norway with his family to visit relatives. He loved a good Class B basketball tournament and was delighted when Benson County was playing, having coached basketball and baseball in his early years.

Byron loved his grandchildren, John, Olivia, and Sophia, and was genuinely interested in their lives. He had a special way of engaging with them, resulting in countless hours of fun. At whatever their age, he was happy to join in their activities, from getting right down on the floor to play trains, blocks, cars, horses and dollies; walking alongside them on tricycle rides, building elaborate blanket forts, cuddling up for storytime, and playing cards and board games to attending everything from their swimming lessons, T-ball games, Taekwondo sessions, horse riding, figure skating, hockey and musical performances. As John, Olivia and Sophia advanced to high school sports, Byron enthusiastically cheered them on at their hockey and football games and swimming meets. Byron was delighted by their animal-loving hearts from their "Littles," (bunnies, guinea pigs, and hamsters) to their kitten, Roadie, the family dogs Lady and Dixie, and the canine companion puppies they raised: Harrison, Fargo and Genevieve.

Keeping close connections to family was important to Byron and during the girls’ youth, the family would reserve Sunday evenings to gather around the land line phone to make calls to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. While Byron kept copious research and lists on issues he opposed and supported, most touching are the files he kept on close friends and family members containing birth, graduation and wedding invitations/announcements, obituaries, stories on achievements, etc., showing his deep affection for those closest to him, and he built quite a collection! He loved perusing these files and looking over pictures of friends and family, which brought him memories of cozy times.

Byron received benefits through the Veterans Administration, allowing him to live at home during most of his illness, with the last few months of his life at Missouri Slope Nursing Home in Bismarck. The family thanks all who were involved in his care.

Byron was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Carol (Basil) Tweten; twin brother and sister, Phillip and Patricia; his grandparents, Knute and Ida Knutson and Oliver and Gina Westrum; sister-in-law, Mildred Ingebo; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Glen and Vivian Abrahamson and Douglas and Alice Engkvist; and nephews Keith, Gary and Larry Abrahamson.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bernice; daughter, Rebecca Knutson, her children John, Olivia, and Sophia, and their father, Tom Gowin; daughter, Harmony Knutson; cousin, Joyce Rassmussen; nephews, Craig (Dolly) Tweten, Cameron (Laurie) Tweten, Robert (Sherri) Engkvist; David (Marsha) Abrahamson and Randy (Lori) Abrahamson; and nieces Ruann (Jerry) Tweten Deschene, Dianne Engkvist, Shari (John) Engkvist Matusiak, Sophia Engkvist; nieces-in-law, Valerie Abrahamson and Alice Abrahamson; and Karen Thompson and Ryan (Kathleen) Thompson, and many great nieces and nephews and their children.

A remembrance and sharing service will be held October 1, 11 a.m., at McCabe United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with a luncheon following. To honor Byron’s labor, political and social justice work, the family will host a “Get-Out-The-Vote for your Candidate or Issue Rally,” 5:30-8 p.m., at the Bismarck Labor Temple, 2210 E Broadway.

October 4, in Byron’s hometown of Harlow, Byron will receive military funeral honors for his U.S. Marine Corps service at Noon, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. A 2 p.m. service will be at Our Savior’s, followed by a meal and time of sharing at the VFW Hall.

The family invites memorials to demnpl.com, ndfu.org, ndunited.org and greatplainsfoodbank.org. Unspecified memorials will be directed to the Harlow Cemetery, Robert Tovsrud VFW and Bismarck MLK Holiday Commission.