Byron Knutson
Office2nd North Dakota Labor Commissioner
Term start1987
Term end1991
GovernorGeorge A. Sinner
PrecededOrville W. Hagen
SucceededCraig Hagen
Office 216th North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
Term start 21977
Term end 21981
Governor 2Arthur A. Link
Preceded 2Jorris O. Wigen
Succeeded 2Jorris O. Wigen
State house 3North Dakota
District 320th
Term start 3December 1, 1958
Term end 3December 1, 1962
Preceded 3C. H. Hofstrand
Succeeded 3S. F. Hoffner
Birth dateNovember 9, 1929
Birth placeHarlow, North Dakota, U.S.
Death dateDecember 6, 2025 (aged 96)
PartyDemocratic (D-NPL)
SpouseBernice Hofstad
EducationUniversity of North Dakota
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
BattlesKorean War

Byron Knutson (November 9, 1929 – December 6, 2025) was a North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party politician who served as the North Dakota Insurance Commissioner from 1977 to 1980 and as the North Dakota Labor Commissioner from 1987 to 1990.[1] He previously served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1959 to 1962.[2]

Early life

Knutson was born near Harlow (a small town near Brinsmade) on November 9, 1929, and raised in Harlow near Devis Lake.

He was educated in Harlow elementary schools and graduated from Benson County Agriculture and Training High School in Maddock, North Dakota. He attended North Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, and Valley City State College for his college education.

Political career

Knutson served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1959 to 1963, and ran for North Dakota Public Service Commissioner in 1974, but was unsuccessful. He was elected as the North Dakota Insurance Commissioner in 1976, but was defeated in 1980. After being defeated, he ran for North Dakota Labor Commissioner in 1982, and for North Dakota Secretary of State in 1984, but was unsuccessful in both elections. He tried again for Labor Commissioner in 1986, and this time won, defeating Orville W. Hagen. His tenure was short-lived, however, and he was defeated in 1990 by Craig Hagen, who is of no relation to Orville.

Personal life

He was married to Bernice, and has two daughters: Rebecca and Harmony.

Knutson died surrounded by his family on December 6, 2025.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ North Dakota Secretary of State | About the Secretary of State
  2. ^ Dakota Lawmakers Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine, North Dakota Legislative Council
  3. ^ Segal, Edward (15 January 2026). "North Dakota man who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. dies at 96". KX Television. Retrieved 15 January 2026.