Trent Hartman Knudson

Trent Hartman Knudson, 90, of Clifton, passed away peacefully at home Tuesday, December 11, 2018. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 14, 2018, at the Rock Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, December 13, 2018, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Parish Hall.

Trent Hartman Knudson was born on August 3, 1928, to Selmer and Edna Knudson in the Mustang community near Cranfills Gap. He was baptized at St. Olaf Lutheran Church on September 6, 1928. The family moved to the Geary Creek community, and Trent started school at the Meridian Creek School and continued his education there until Meridian Creek consolidated with Cranfills Gap ISD. On July 11, 1943, he was confirmed by Rev. Benjamin Maakstad at St. Olaf. When his father started working for Clifton College, Trent and his family moved to Clifton where he attended school there.

Trent enlisted into the United States Army on November 10, 1950, with the Oklahoma National Guard. He trained at Fort Polk in Louisiana and was sent into action in Korea with the 279th Infantry, Company B, the Thunderbirds. While serving there, he was awarded a Purple Heart and was honorably discharged on September 23, 1952.

Upon his return to Bosque County, he started working for William Tergerson in the construction business. It was during this time that Trent met Helon Ruth Viertel, and on September 28, 1957, they were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clifton, a church that he and Mr. Tergerson had recently built. They made their home on Neilscreek south of the Gap for most of their married life. Trent farmed his place, did custom farming, worked as an air conditioner electrician, and operated a custom ground spraying business. In 1981 they moved to Clifton and then in 1986 moved to Dallas where he worked with a realtor getting homes ready to sell. When Helon and Trent moved back to Clifton in 1997, Trent worked for C.E. Stevens on Coachman RV's.

Trent and Helon logged many miles traveling the country and seeing its many wonderful sights. In addition to travel, Trent liked to hunt and fish in his younger days and when he retired he enjoyed working in his garden, tinkering in his shop and going to the coffee shop which brought him much joy.

Trent loved his country, the farm, his family and his friends. "Gentle spirit, easy-going, and good-natured" are words that describe this man of few words.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Selmer and Edna Jenson Knudson; sister, Sarah and a baby sister.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Helon Ruth Viertel Knudson; daughter, Ruth Jana' Knudson Taylor and son-in-law, Guy W. Taylor; grandsons, Paul Hartman Taylor, wife, Sydney and son, Samuel; and Marcus Trent Taylor and wife, Shani Taylor.

Visitation will be held in the Parish Hall.