The Service in PDF format is at: Laura Knudson Memorial
Video of service is at: YouTube
AS WE GATHER
Today we gather in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to remember the life of Laura Knudson and to proclaim the victory of Jesus Christ who has been raised from the dead. Both the Old and the New Testaments of the Holy Bible speak powerfully of the resurrection of the dead. Isaiah, Hosea, and Paul all remind us, “’Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?’ The sting of death is sin, the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Such is the wonder of the Christian faith. When a Christian loved one is taken from us in death, we have the assurance that he or she has won the victory! Our struggle with sin and death, pain and sorrow continues, but Jesus’ victory is complete! Our sense of loss can be overwhelming, but His victory is won!
OPENING HYMN “How Great Thou Art”
Stuart Wesley Keene Hine; Copyright 1949 and 1953 Stuart Hine Trust CIO Stuart K. Hine Trust (Administration: USA All rights by Capitol CMG Publishing, except print rights for USA, North, Central and South America administered by Hope Publishing. All other non USA Americas rights by the Stuart Hine Trust. Rest of World – Integritymusic.com.)
O Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r thru’out
The universe displayed
Chorus: Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
When through the woods
And forest glades I wander
And hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze
Chorus
Leader: In the name of the Father, the † Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Leader: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
People: He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
Leader: he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
People: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Leader: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
People: Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Leader: Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray. O God of grace and mercy, we give thanks for Your loving-kindness shown to Laura and to all Your servants who, having finished their course in faith, now rest from their labors. Grant that we also may be faithful unto death and receive the crown of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
LAURA’S LIFE IN WORDS – Mitch Knudson
Part 1
Part 2
Laura Irene Knudson, 88, of Philomath, Oregon, passed away on August 24, 2024, in the company of her family.
Laura was born November 11, 1935, to Bruce and Thelma Hamm of Philomath, Oregon. Bruce and Thema owned acreage west of Philomath on Woods Creek Road where they had timber and ran a few cattle. Laura grew up on this Woods Creek property with her four siblings, Bruce Jr., Steve, Ron and Tim.
Laura met Richard (Dick) Knudson in 1951 when she was 15 and he was 18. Three years later Laura and Dick were married on June 27, 1954. The two eventually bought property up the road from Bruce and Thelma’s place. For over five decades they made a life together on Woods Creek, raising five children (Debi, Rick, Peggy, Larry and Mitch) and running a successful family logging business.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Bruce and Thelma Hamm; brothers, Bruce Hamm Jr. and Ron Hamm; and by Dick in 2013, her husband of 59 years. She is survived by brothers, Steve Hamm and Tim Hamm; her five children and their spouses, Debi (Butch) Bedell, Rick (Rita) Knudson, Peggy (Kurt) Hobin, Larry (Janet) Knudson and Mitch (Nicolle) Knudson; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, we ask you please submit donations to Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care
OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
EPISTLE READING Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
SONG OF COMFORT “Amazing Grace”
Text by John Newton. Adapted and arranged by John Coates, Jr.
Sung by: Amber Knudson
WORDS OF COMFORT
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
LAURA’S LIFE IN PICTURES
Leader: Father in heaven, give to the friends of Laura and to all who mourn comfort in their grief and a sure confidence in Your loving care that, casting all their sorrow on You, they may know Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Receive our thanks for Laura and for all the blessings You bestowed on her in this earthly life. Bring us at last to our heavenly home that with her we may see You face to face in the joys of paradise. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: O God of all grace, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to bring life and immortality to life. We give You thanks that by His death He destroyed the power of death and by His resurrection He opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Strengthen us in the confidence that because He lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life nor things present nor things to come will be able to separate us from Your love, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
ALL: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
CLOSING SONG “Blessed Assurance”
By: Fanny J. Crosby & Mrs. J.F. Knapp; ©1971 by William J. Glaither. The Other Song Book.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Leader: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and +give you peace.
People: Amen.
