William Knodell, age 96, of Winner, passed away on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 14, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial to follow at the Winner City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6:00-7:00 PM Friday, November 13, 2015 at Mason Funeral Home in Winner with a 7:00 Prayer Service. William Knodell was born at home in Winner, SD on October 9, 1919, the son of Roscoe and Clara Knodell. He graduated from Winner High School in 1939. He went into the Army on July 16, 1941. He completed his basic training at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and was stationed there when World War II broke out. He was captured in Africa and taken prisoner of war in February 1943. He remained a POW in Germany for 27 months. He was liberated in May 1945. He married Patricia Collins on September 29, 1945. They moved to a ranch 15 miles Northwest of Mission, SD. They moved to Winner in 1955 and raised a family of 4 daughters and 4 sons. He is survived by Dorothy Gant (Tim), Hamill, SD; Carole Mahan (Tim), Minneapolis, MN; Darlene Knodell, Winner SD; Tammy Lapsley (Steve), Valentine, NE; Jack Knodell, Box Elder, SD; Mike Knodell, Kennebec, SD; Tony Knodell (Kathi), Box Elder, SD; 17 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 1 sister, Alice Ruth Craven of McMinnville, OR. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, the VFW and the DAV. He had a passion for horses and was an excellent horseman. It has been said of him that he was one of the last of the true cowboys. He will always be remembered as a loving and caring father and grandfather.

Return to Family Page

{Deo Optimo Maximo, Deo Gratias} {Si Deus Nobiscum quis contra nos?}