Oct. 12 Obituaries

Russell Knudson Jr., 78, of Portales, died Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at his home.

He was born on May 15, 1926, in Blanket, Texas, to Russell and Thelma Knudson.

He graduated from Farley High School in 1945. He was a bombardier for the U.S. Navy Air Corps and served in the Pacific theater. He returned to the University of New Mexico in 1947 where he met and married Jeanne Scott. He served as the school principal and coach for the Farley New Mexico Schools until 1960. He was a coach and high school principal in the Portales school system. He was the Raton Public School Superintendent from 1972 to 1985.

After his retirement, he attended the University of San Francisco School of Law. He served as the vice president of the New Mexico Activities Association and as director for the University of New Mexico Alumni Association. The New Mexico Senate confirmed him as a member of the Commission for Higher Education and he was a member of the New Mexico Supreme Courts Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee.

He married Wilma Roberts on Dec. 27, 1992.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Julie Bankson; and his first wife.

Survivors include his second wife; two sons, Roger Knudson (and wife, Laura Neack) of Newport, Ky., and Randy Knudson (Laura) of Portales; a son-in-law, Jim Bankson (Mandy) of Santa Rosa, Calif.; four stepsons, Donnie Roberts (Linda) of Clovis, Ron Roberts (Cindy) of Hobbs, Monte Roberts of Rio Rancho and Alan Roberts (Selena) of Portales; eight grandchildren; and 16 step-grandchildren.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Third and Kilgore Church of Christ in Portales. David Bennett, Marshall Stinnett and Steve Doerr will officiate the services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of Eastern New Mexico University Foundation.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.