Irene Knutsen

Irene (Gray) Knutsen

1927-2025

Irene was born in the Spring of 1927 to Conrad and Anna Gray in the tiny town of Farmer Washington. She was the only girl among 5 brothers. Anna called mom “spitfire” due to her desire to keep up with her brothers in all ways, despite their attempts to deter her, and despite her willingness to darn their socks repeatedly!

During the Great Depression, Conrad sought work anywhere he could find and passed suddenly in 1933, leaving Anna to care for their 6 children. From Anna's example, mom learned  strength, perseverance, and everlasting faith in God which served us all well in  challenging times.

The family moved to Douglas Washington where mom graduated with honors from high school. She went on to Pullman and graduated from Washington State College (now WSU). This is where a handsome young man from Bellingham, named Denis Knutsen caught her eye. After finishing their degrees, they were married in the summer of 1949 at the Douglas Lutheran Church and eventually settled in Spokane to raise their growing family of 1 daughter and 4 sons.

Mom was a crackerjack executive assistant, known for her rapid typing skills and shorthand, which would frustrate all of us in the family when she would write the strange symbols on lists we wanted to see!

 In her younger days she played softball for her work team and continued to develop her love for sports which lasted way into her 90's. She seldom missed watching Cougar  football and basketball, and became an avid Gonzaga fan as well. HOWEVER, nothing brought her more joy than watching her beloved grandchildren play  football, basketball, and baseball games throughout their lives and into college. She kept impeccable stats in her little spiral notebooks which filled a large Amazon box over time.

Mom and Dad moved from their Walnut street home in 2012 to a lovely apartment  at Fairwood Village in north Spokane. Over time, Dad's dementia became more challenging to manage and necessitated a move to Memory Care for him. He passed in November 2015.  Although saddened to lose her mate of 68 years, she seemed to blossom afterward and became more active in social and family activities, something we all greatly enjoyed.

Irene was also known and adored for her quick wit, dry sense of humor  and pride in family. We never got away with using poor grammar, judging people, or speaking ill of the Democratic Party!

This past year, some TIAs affected her memory and her arthritis took its toll. She adamantly refused to live with any of her children and we placed her in a loving group home near Louanne and Wes in late July with Hospice care. She was content to rest there and receive lots of visitors, especially her newest great grandchildren.

We miss her deeply, but are forever grateful for her courage, humility, sense of humor and most of all her abiding faith in Jesus Christ which strengthens us daily. 

In addition to her husband, Irene was pre-deceased by her dear Gray brothers, Edwin, Lawrence, Melvin and Carroll, and beloved grandaughter Amber Knutsen.

She is survived by her daughter Louanne (Wes) Graham, sons Chad (Pam) Knutsen,

Chris (Lori) Knutsen, Wade (Stephanie) Knutsen, and her brother Gorman Gray.                                     A wonderful legacy also  lives on with her 8 grandchildren, 14 greatgrandchildren and many special nieces, nephews and friends.

A Celebration of Life will occur at 1:00 Saturday April 25,2026  at Salem Lutheran 1428 W Broadway in Spokane WA. All who knew Irene are welcome to attend,