Roger Seleen Knutson

Roger Seleen Knutson was born August 12, 1933 in a farmhouse in Heron Lake, Minnesota. He was the youngest of 7 children born to Slias J and Stella M Knutson. During World War II, the family moved to Tacoma, Washington where his father worked in Todd Shipyards. Roger graduated from Tacoma’s Lincoln HS in 1951.  After 1 year at the University of Puget Sound, Roger and 2 friends joined the U.S. Army. While serving in Korea on the DMZ, he decided to pursue an engineering degree at the University of Washington. In 1961 he was awarded a BS in Civil Engineering from the U of W.

In the fall of 1958 he met Carolyn Jean Thune at a dorm dance at the University of Washington. They fell in love, and were married on June 15, 1962. While living in Seattle they discovered their shared love of nature. In 1963 Roger suggested taking a class in mountain climbing. Together they climbed many of the Northwest peaks, including Mt. Rainier, Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Baker, Mt. Olympus, and Mt. Hood.  Daughters, Karin and Christina were born in 1965 and 1967. Each summer on family backpacking trips, Roger carried a heavy pack AND often a daughter on his shoulders.

Roger’s career as a Civil Engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers centered on floodplain management. In 1976-1977 the family moved to Washington DC, while he attended the year long Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors Planning Associates Program. During this time, Roger developed a love for birdwatching.  Back in Oregon, in the 1980s, he focused on mitigating damage to waterways after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. He retired from the Corps in 1992.

In retirement, Roger and Carolyn traveled widely. He visited 30 different countries in his lifetime. They also spent part of each year in Kona, Hawaii, where they were active in the tennis community. In 2016, they moved to Mary’s Woods Retirement Community in Lake Oswego. There they treasured being close to old and new friends. Roger lived a full life and died peacefully in his sleep in the morning of September 12th, 2026.  His hugs, thoughtful conversations, hilarious stories of high school high jinks and uncanny ability to always win at cards will be missed by many.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Knutson; daughters, Karin Peters (Scott Peters) and Christina Knutson (Mark Crowley); and Grandsons, Alexander Peters, Ryder Booth, and Flint Booth. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2PM, Tuesday, November 24, 2026 at the Chapel of the Holy Names at Mary's Woods, 17400 Holy Names Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. A reception will follow immediately at the Nathman Center. Parking is limited and carpooling is encouraged. In lieu of gifts, the family suggests gifts to Bird Alliance of Oregon.

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