Roger Bernhardt Knutsen

Lt. Col. (Chaplain) Roger Bernhardt Knutsen, USA Ret., 93, returned to his heavenly home on March 11, 2020. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him and ultimately gave him peace.

Roger was born to the late Christian and Ruth Knutsen, a Methodist minister and a homemaker respectively, in Aalesund, Norway on June 28, 1926. His grandfather was also a Methodist minister. He was immersed in the Christian community that would be his lifelong support from an early age and eventually his calling. After living in occupied Norway for 5 years and part of the resistance, he made sure that continued education was a goal for him to achieve. He started his advanced educational journey at Boston University with degrees at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University, Long Island University and finally earning his Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Roger was blessed with a close and loving family. He married his best friend whom he met at a Youth Conference in Bergen, Norway, Marit Helen Westvik, on September 6, 1948. Roger helped raise his four children with patience, discipline and humility. He served many Methodist parishes, both stateside in California and Wisconsin and abroad in Norway, before and after his service in the Army. A two-tour Vietnam veteran and Army Chaplain he took his family on long family trips in-between duty stations to see the natural beauty of the United States and Europe with multiple assignments in Germany and Colorado and single service posts in New York, New Jersey, Texas, California and Washington. From the very beginning, he dedicated his children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of the gospels. He was discharged with full honors in 1983 after service to this great country for over 20 years. Upon retirement, he chose Colorado to be his final residence because of the beauty and similarity to his homeland of Norway and proximity to most of his family. Family was so important to him and discussions and celebrations around the breakfast, lunch and dinner table were some of his most treasured times. “Life is full of surprises” was heard many times in those discussions.

Two quotes from one of his favorite statesmen and authors, the second UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskiol:

“We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours.”

and

“I am the vessel. The draft is God's. And God is the thirsty one”

Roger was an educator at heart. He was kind and had a loving spirit to all people. He especially had a heart for the young he mentored. He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator.

Roger is survived by his wife, Marit; his sons Jan-Roger, Dag Wesley and Erik; his daughter Ruth-Ann; 10 grand-children, 8 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren; and his sister, Edel or “Bibbi. He is preceded in death by his brother, Kjell; and his parents.

Roger was buried with full military honors at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The family gratefully declines flowers and donations, but prayers, condolences and memories are gladly accepted at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/.