Wilbur 'Yibby' Knudsen
Wilbur Leigh "Yibby" Knudsen was born in Crosby on June 17, 1919. He attended Brainerd schools, graduated from Washington High School and attended Crosby's junior college. In his teen years, he assisted his dad, who was the county surveyor, laying section corners. He also caddied with Stew Mills at area golf courses that they could walk to. He enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to a Blimp Unit that flew over U.S. coastlines looking for enemy submarines. He was a metal worker first class. While in the service, he met Chicagoan Jeanne Regan in Charleston, S.C., where she played trombone in the Sharon Rogers all girl band for USO gatherings. They were married in August 1948 after his discharge from the service. Yib returned to Brainerd and started Brainerd Heating in his parent's garage. In 1956 he moved the family to Council Bluffs, Iowa, while he worked in Omaha for C.T. Vaughn heating company. In 1969, the family returned to Brainerd and Yibby started up Knudsen Construction Company. He also joined his brother Richard in Knudsen Real Estate in 1975 and remained an active Realtor until his retirement in 2002. Yibby and Jeanne spent over 15 winters in Destin, Fla., and made wonderful friends from all over the country. Yibby was a founding member of the North Countrymen Barber Shoppers and sang baritone. He served over 30 years on the Evergreen Cemetery board, was active in the First Congregational Church and in their choir for 50 years. He was very active in the Elks No. 615 Lodge and served the "chairs" including Exalted Ruler. He could be found in the Elks booth during the Crow Wing County Fair every year. He was a member of the American Legion from 1945 to present. He served on the Brainerd Downtown Businessmen's Association He was named Sertoman of the Year by the Noon Sertoma Club. He was an active member of the Geritol Frolics and was also active in various fund-raising activities such as the Bethany Bowling event.
Yibby was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Bessie (St. John) Knudsen; his wife, Jeanne (Regan) Knudsen in 2006; his older brother, Julius lost (MIA) in the Death March at Bataan WWII; and his younger brother, Richard (Shirley) Knudsen.
He is survived by his seven children, Karen (Don) Trame, Florence, Ky., James (Sue Hobson) Knudsen, Brainerd, Karl (Patty Barker) Knudsen, Rock Island, Ill., Joanne (Greg) Cook, Deer Trail, Colo., Jayne (Jeff) Owston, Littleton, Colo., Kris (Brad) Wolf, Ramsey, Minn., Julie (Knudsen) Barstad, Hinckley, Minn.; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 30 at the First Congregational Church in north Brainerd followed by a light luncheon and fellowship with the family to follow in the church. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Bethany Good Samaritan or Elks Youth Camp.
Arrangements by Nelson-Doran Funeral Home, Brainerd.