Peter Louis Knudsen

Peter was born in Tehran, Iran while his parents, Lt. Commander Louie B Knudsen Jr. (USN) and Elaine Zworykin Knudsen (both deceased) were stationed there. Peter was born the youngest of four children and will be lovingly remembered by each of his siblings; Sandra, Valerie, and Eric Knudsen. Peter shared many youthful hours on his various adventures with them as they grew up together in northern Virginia and southern California.

In 1987 Peter married his first wife, Burnetta and they were blessed with their first daughter Amy. They lived together in northern California until the birth of their second daughter Sara. In 1992, Peter packed up his family and made the journey to follow his elder sister and parents to beautiful western Montana. His family grew again in 2004 to include Vanessa. His family home on Mulberry Lane is fondly remembered by all his daughters.

Attaining many associate degrees through Humboldt State University, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and University of Montana, he loved sharing his wisdom and detailed knowledge with his daughters and vast and priceless collection of friends.

In 2010, Peter met his wife Terri while still living in western Montana. For Peter, a new journey was to begin with Terri. Embracing her large family including her pride and joys, adult children Jamie and Sean as his own. In 2015 Peter was faced with wanting to go back to his beloved California coastline and leaving his treasured mountains, the result….Crescent City, California. It was here Peter found his joy.

How does one make new friends in a new place? You start with a hello, you smile, you listen, you talk and then if all else, well, you do it the “Peter way” by sharing his homemade JERKY. Peter leaves behind an emptiness that may never be filled. Be it a treasure from a yard sale, tomatoes from his garden, or conversation by a grill, he always found ways to leave a small piece of him with you. Peter, also leaves behind family, friends and neighbors that are now richer having known him.

Whether pulling a rake, landscaping his yard, or staring out at the Pacific Ocean, Peter was passionate about the home he and Terri were creating. Seeking advice from anyone, trying new ideas, he stayed busy with one project or another. Peter had many dreams, one was to share his beloved redwoods, violent ocean storms, and calm beaches with all his family and friends.

Peter is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Terri (Fairbank) Miller Knudsen, his children: Amy and her spouse Greg Brimeyer, Sara and her partner Zachary Fennell, Vanessa Gasser, Jamie and her spouse Michael Locke, and Sean and his spouse Larisa Startin, siblings Eric and his wife Sharon Knudsen, Sandra and her husband Red Stanley, and Valerie Knudsen and her partner Dan. Peter also leaves behind his grandsons Evan, Izik and Levi Brimeyer, Charles Fairbank and granddaughter Raven Startin, loving and caring former spouse Burnetta Peek, and many nephews and nieces.

Regardless of what Peter was doing; becoming an Eagle Scout, enthusiastically competing with his brother Eric for the best bar-b-que recipe, or trying to hook the biggest fish with AJ and his son, Levi, he had to give it all. After all Peter’s theory was…..

“It’s all just a process. One step at time and we will figure it out together.”

A celebration of life will be held at his beloved family home in Crescent City, July 22. Please come and celebrate, remember and enjoy this time with family and friends.