Daniel Ross Knudsen

Daniel Ross Knudsen, 83, of Orem, passed away Sunday, April 26th, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born on March 3rd, 1943, in Mesa, AZ, to Morley Archibald and Sina Lottie Stradling Knudsen. He married Patricia Anne Golding on September 6th, 1966, in the Los Angeles LDS Temple.

Dan’s family moved to a farm in Farmington, New Mexico, when he was five years old, where he was surrounded by his extended family. They loved spending time together—often getting into a bit of mischief.

In high school, Dan was an active member of the choir and participated in many church activities. He was also an excellent student. After graduating from Farmington High School, he received a full scholarship to New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Dan later served a successful LDS mission in Northern California. After returning, he attended BYU on a music scholarship, where he performed in many leading roles in school operas. He also worked in a professional theater in Bountiful, Utah, performing alongside well-known actors such as Jack Cassidy, Hugh O’Brian, and Lee Meriwether.

While at BYU, Dan met “the best thing that ever happened to me,” his wife, Patricia Golding. They were married eight months later in the Los Angeles Temple. The couple returned to BYU and welcomed the first of their nine children in 1967.

They later moved to Seattle, where Dan worked for Boeing and sang at the Seattle Center Opera House. By then a family of five, they eventually returned to Provo, and Dan graduated from BYU. In 1970, they purchased their home in Orem and have lived there ever since, where they welcomed six more children.

Dan sang for 20 years in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He also worked for the State of Utah as a case manager for 30 years and served as an ordinance worker in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos temples for 28 years. He was passionate about family history and genealogy, particularly his Danish roots, and took great joy in helping others find their ancestors.

Dan is survived by his wife and his nine children: Hyrum “Andy” Knudsen of Orem, UT; Jed (Jennifer) Knudsen of South Jordan, UT; Howard (Lonica) Knudsen of Orem, UT; Becky (Chris) Smith of Springfield, MO; Christopher (Amanda) Knudsen of Pleasant Grove, UT; Rima (Brian) Crossley of Springdale, WA; Tasha (Clint) Hoke of Lehi, UT; Karina (Jeremy) Marsigli of Orem, UT; and Lyssa (David) Sallay of Sandy, UT; 30 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, with two on the way; one brother, Richard (Nancy) Knudsen; three sisters, Lottie Jo Foutz, Nancy Wells, Bertha Knudsen and sister-in-law's Leslie Knudsen and Sharon Hardy. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Geraldine (Robert) Walker Terry; three brothers, Arnold (Joyce) Knudsen, Jim Knudsen, and David (Rosemary) Knudsen; two brothers-in-law, Brian Foutz and Wayne Wells; and one granddaughter, Mabra Knudsen.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cherry Hill 7th Ward LDS Chapel located at 135 East 2000 South, Orem, Utah. A viewing for friends and family will be held on Friday, May 1st, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home located at 495 South State Street in Orem, and on Saturday, just prior to the service, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at the EastLawn Memorial Hills Garden Cemetery.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services in person, you may view the Livestream HERE