Bettye Jean (Calvert) Knudson

Bettye Jean (Calvert) Knudson, 90, of Cranfills Gap passed away Tuesday morning June 20, 2017. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 23, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Cranfills Gap with Pastor Ryan Pederson officiating. Burial will follow at St. Olaf Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday evening at Clifton Funeral Home in Clifton.

On October 1, 1926, Bettye was born in Oak Cliff to Wilbur H. and Ida Mae (Boles) Calvert. She grew up in Oak Cliff and was baptized and joined the Brooklyn Avenue Methodist Church there in 1940. In 1943, she graduated from Sunset High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society and a drummer in the pep squad.

Bettye was united in marriage to the love of her life, Carroll Knudson, on February 26, 1945, in Melbourne, FL, while he was in serving in the U. S. Navy. After completing his service, the couple moved to Bosque County in 1947. Carroll preceded her in death on January 20, 2007, after 61 years together.

For more than 40 years, Bettye worked as a cashier with Carroll in the family business, Gap and Clifton Tractor Auction. She was a very active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church where she served in many roles, including teaching Sunday School and participating in the North Mustang and Lydia Circles. Also, active in civic and community matters, she was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, worked for the Bosque County Democratic Party and served as an election judge for the Mustang Precinct.

However, her passion for 36 years was golf. She loved to play on courses at Bluebonnet Country Club in Hico and Bosque Valley Golf Course in Meridian. She played couples tournaments with Carroll at various clubs and also served as Chairperson of three tournaments in Meridian. She was proud to have scored a hole-in-one during her playing days.

Bettye was also preceded in death by her parents; sister, Helen Muir, and grandson, Carlton Knudson. She is survived by three sons, Ole Carroll Knudson and wife, Johnette, of Granbury, Bruce Lee Knudson and wife, Cindy, of Bryan, and Conrad Dwaine Knudson and wife, Devan, of China Spring; two daughters, Laurie Kay Hageman and husband, Richard, of San Antonio (Garden Ridge), and Karen Gayle Nelson of Hillsboro; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Richard Muir of Sanger.

Memorials may be made to St. Olaf Lutheran Church, 410 Meridian, Cranfills Gap, TX 76637; the Wounded Warrior Project, Attn: Advance Guard, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-9917; or the Salvation Army, PO Box 36607, Dallas, TX 75235.