North Dakota
North Dakota man who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. dies
BISMARCK — A former North Dakota elected official who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. has died.
Byron Knutson died Dec. 6 at the age of 96, according to his family. His daughter alerted media to his death on Thursday, Jan. 15.
A member of the Democratic-NPL Party, Knutson served as a state legislator, insurance commissioner and labor commissioner.
Knutson was surrounded by family at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bernice (Hofstad) Knutson, daughters Rebecca and Harmony Knutson, and grandchildren John, Olivia and Sophia Gowin.
“Profoundly inspired by King, our father devoted his life to public service,” Rebecca Knutson said via release. “There are still so many injustices happening in our world. Leaders like King and our father are desperately needed.”
A celebration of life for Knutson will be announced at a later date, the release said. To mark Knutson’s death, The Forum is republishing the following column by Jim Shaw, which was originally published in 2021.
‘No time for fear’ North Dakota man joined MLK in 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery
Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A day when we remember the extraordinary civil rights leader and the enormous impact he had.
One of the people King had a huge impact on was Byron Knutson, 91, of Bismarck.
Knutson grew up in the small North Dakota town of Harlow, near Devils Lake. It was far away from a sizable community of African Americans, and very far away from the segregated South, where Black Americans were degraded, humiliated and had few rights.
Knutson started thinking about racial injustice in the 1950s when he was a Marine sergeant serving in the Korean War. Three of his closest companions in the war were Black Americans from Louisiana and South Carolina. They lived together, ate together and fought together.
“These men served our nation hontrably,” Knutson said. “However, when they returned to their home states, they did not have the right to vote even though they had been willing to give their lives in defense of our nation’s actions. What an injustice. … I vowed to one day try to help people like these good young men.”
After the war, Knutson started following the news accounts from the Jim Crow South.
Contributed
“I was angry with how Blacks were treated,” Knutson said. “It was dreadful that in many states, segregation kept them from attending schools of their choice, from living and working wherever was best for them, from shopping at stores, from being served at lunch counters, from sitting wherever they wished in public transportation and from using a bathroom unless it was marked Black or Colored.”
Knutson read and watched news stories about King and was inspired by the young, charismatic Baptist minister from Atlanta. King led such events as the Montgomery bus boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, always preaching nonviolent protests.
It was during the March on Washington that King delivered his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech. Knutson saw it and was moved.
In Alabama and other Southern states, Black Americans were denied the right to vote. Sometimes they were given a poll tax they couldn’t pay, a literacy test they couldn’t pass or were simply rejected without explanation. Black people trying to register to vote risked being beaten, arrested or fired from their jobs.
So, in 1965, King announced there would be a voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Knutson enthusiastically volunteered to participate.
“When Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. called upon the nation’s clergy and lay people to support the rights of African Americans and all people to vote without fear of losing their lives, I was ready to do my part,” Knutson said. “I had seen the dreadful reports of the killings of innocent Blacks by hate mongers such as KKK members and the trampling of civil rights marchers by Southern police. … It was unthinkable that North Dakota would not be represented in this all-important call by Reverend King.”
Actually, Knutson signed up to take part in the third march. The first two ended in tragedy. The first march was on March 7, 1965. During that event, Alabama State Troopers beat the unarmed marchers with billy clubs, shoved them and fired tear gas at them. It became known as “Bloody Sunday.”
Alabama Department of Public Safety / TNS
Two days later, they tried marching again but turned back. That night, three of the white marchers were attacked and beaten with clubs by four members of the KKK. One of the victims, James Reeb, was killed.
So, Knutson, then 35, knew the potential dangers he was facing when he took a 10-day leave from his job at the Soo Line Railroad and headed to Selma along with Frank Woodall, a pastor at the Oberon, North Dakota, Swedish Lutheran Church.
They were advised not to drive a car with North Dakota license plates to Alabama. Thus, they drove 16 hours to Nashville, then took a train to Montgomery, and then were picked up in a station wagon for the ride to Selma. They were joined in the car by a young Black man who was going to march in honor of his uncle, who was recently lynched.
“Upon boarding the station wagon, the driver told us to keep our heads low,” Knutson said. “No raising of our heads, no talking. We obeyed, but through a slit in a curtain, we viewed police, whips in hand, mounted on white horses near us.”
A couple of days before the march, Knutson and 70 others were walking through a white neighborhood in Selma.
“Suddenly, curtains closed on the windows of residents and police appeared,” Knutson said. “They tapped on each of our shoulders, telling us we were being arrested for our own safety. We were ushered to our buses and brought to prison. Since the prison was full, we were incarcerated in what appeared to be an old warehouse where we were kept for the night.”
The next day, they went to the courthouse with local Black citizens so they could register to vote.
“We were told the registrar was just not available,” Knutson said. “Was the registrar suddenly unavailable because Black citizens were coming to legally be registered to vote? It was dismaying to witness this act against them.”
On March 21, 1965, it was time for the third march. This time, the walkers were to be protected by the Alabama National Guard, which had been federalized by President Lyndon Johnson.
“We were instructed in methods of nonviolent action to assure that the march would be peaceful,” Knutson said. “March organizers asked for persons who had been in the military and had experience in dealing with crowds to come forth to help in making sure that the thousands of marchers walked peacefully, and to assist the marchers if they needed it. I volunteered.”
So, led by King, Knutson and 8,000 peaceful participants started walking 54 miles to Montgomery.
William Lovelace / Getty Images / TNS
“It was a joyful march,” Knutson said. “I was in charge of several lines of marchers. I made sure that marchers stayed in formation, with no one wandering off the designated road. We looked out for those who needed extra help and assisted them in finding food, first aid and latrines. … The marchers were kind, cooperative, serious and determined souls, dedicated to bringing voting rights to African Americans. I felt blessed to be able to help them in this epic time.”
Many onlookers shouted ugly slurs at the walkers.
“We reminded marchers that they were instructed to disregard critical comments that were shouted at them,” Knutson said. “My responsibilities required a positive, kind bravery that had no time for fear.”
Four days after the start of the march, 25,000 joyful walkers arrived at the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery. The joy turned to grief that night. One of the marchers, Viola Liuzzo, a white mother of five from Detroit, was shot dead by the Klan.
Still, the march received extensive news coverage, and the powerful images strongly influenced public opinion. Soon, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, and Johnson signed it into law on Aug. 6, 1965. Shortly afterwards, millions of Black Americans registered to vote.
“I am proud that I took part in the March for Voting Rights,” Knutson said. “It is one of the most important events of my life, in that it promoted the right for all of us to vote in our nation’s elections.”
Knutson went on to serve in the North Dakota House of Representatives, as North Dakota insurance commissioner and as North Dakota labor commissioner. In his office at home, there’s a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. on the wall that Knutson proudly displays.
“Martin Luther King Jr. continues to be the most inspirational leader of human and civil rights of our time,” Knutson said. “His messages of love, kindness and nonviolence, and of commitment of furthering the rights of all people, are as true today as they were when we marched 55 years ago.”
North Dakota
Hawks Split Friday Doubleheader against NDSU and Omaha – University of North Dakota Athletics
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota softball team went 1-1 on Friday, falling to Omaha 9-0 in the first game and defeating North Dakota State 2-0 in the nightcap from Albrecht Field. The Hawks now sit at 26-21 overall and 3-9 in Summit League play on the season.
It was a tale of two games for UND, from getting shutout in game one to doing the shutting out in game two. Chloe Bethune was 3-for-4 on the day with a walk, reaching base four times.
Game 1 – Omaha 9, UND 0
UND was outhit 8-2, with the Hawks hits coming from Tyler Price and Bethune. NoDak had three total base runners in the contest.
Unity Nelson took the loss in the circle, falling to 9-8 on the season. The sophomore went 1.2 innings and gave up seven earned runs on just three hits, with five walks. Camryn Lasota came in for relief, throwing a season-high 3.1 innings, giving up two earned runs, five hits, one walk with one strikeout.
How It Happened
Both teams went down in order in the first inning, but Omaha struck with seven runs in the second on just four hits. Following a double and two walks, Sammy Schmidt hit a no-out double to right field, bringing home Katherine Johnson and Marra Cramer to take a 2-0 lead.
Nelson recorded the first out of the inning on an Ava Rongisch pop up, before throwing a wild pitch which allowed Alyson Edwards to score to make it 3-0. Following two more walks and a Taylor Sedlacek sac fly, UND was down 4-0. The Mavs scored three more in the inning, headlined by a Bailey Sample two-out double. NoDak trailed 7-0 after three.
The Mavericks scored two more in the top of the third to open up a 9-0 lead. UND got its first hit in the bottom of the fourth on a Price infield single, but the Hawks could not get anything going offensively, falling 9-0 in the first game.
Game 2 – UND 2, NDSU 0
Game two was the Tegan Livesay show, as the junior tossed her 13th complete game and fifth complete game shutout of the season, improving to 12-8 in 2026. She went 7.0 innings, surrendering just six hits and three walks with five huge punchouts. She recorded nine groundouts and threw 131 pitches. Livesay left 10 Bison stranded on base.
The Hawks scored two runs through the first two innings, first on a Bethune RBI single to center field in the bottom of the first, which was followed by an RBI double down the left field line from Makenna Alexander in the bottom of the second.
The hit battle was even at 6-6 in the contest, led by Bethune who went 2-for-2 at the plate. Alexander, Taya Hopfauf, Katelyn Neumayer and Aleksia Severson each poured in a hit as well.
How It Happened
Livesay was weaving in and out of traffic all night, battling out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first. Amai Hanta from NDSU walked to start the game and stole both second and third base to give the Bison a runner on third with no outs. Livesay recorded a massive strikeout on Star Cortez, which was followed by a walk to Bella Dean, setting up runners on the corners with one out.
Jessica Delatorre lined out to Severson for the second out, before Lileigh Nieto walked to load up the bases. Mya Boos grounded out into a 6-4 fielders choice to end the frame on some nifty glove work from Severson to keep it at 0-0.
Alexander and Price both struck out to start the second inning, before Hopfauf and Neumayer both singled. Jaedyn Valdez followed that up with a hit-by-pitch, loading up the bases for Bethune. The sophomore came through with a massive single up the middle, giving UND a 1-0 lead.
Livesay left two stranded in the second inning, surrendering a leadoff infield single to Taylinn Warren. Warren then advanced to second base on a passed ball, but Livesay got Zoe King to strikeout swinging next.
The next batter grounded out to Livesay, before another infield single, this one by Hanta to put runners on the corners. Livesay got Cortez to groundout to first base, where Neumayer took it to the bag for the 3U inning ending putout.
In the bottom of the second, Brooklyn Morris reached on a one-out walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Alexander then belted a ball down the third base line to bring home Morris, giving NoDak a 2-0 lead after two.
Livesay sat down the Bison 1-2-3 in the third and fourth innings before leaving two stranded in the top of the fifth. Hanta and Cortez both logged one-out singles and executed double steals, to give the Bison second and third with one out. Livesay got Dean to line out to short, before punching out Delatorre to get out of the jam.
NoDak stranded a runner on second base in the top of the sixth, with a chance to close it out in the top of the seventh. Livesay sat down Ella Claus, before allowing an infield single to Hanta, sending the tying run to the plate for the Bison.
Cortez was able to reach safely on a fielding error by Livesay, giving NDSU runners on first and second with one out. The junior pitcher did not flinch, striking out Dean on a 3-2 count to make it two outs. Livesay completed the complete game shutout, getting Delatorre to pop out to second base, as UND secured its third-straight win over NDSU.
Game two of the series will take place tomorrow at 1 p.m. on Midco Sports.
For more information on North Dakota Softball, follow on social media @UNDsoftball or visit FightingHawks.com.
North Dakota
Glatt to retire from ND Department of Environmental Quality; Armstrong thanks him for 43 years of service
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong today thanked North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Dave Glatt for his 43 years of service to the state as Glatt announced his retirement as the first – and only – director of DEQ since it became a standalone agency in 2019. His retirement is effective July 31.
“Dave has dedicated more than four decades of his life to protecting North Dakota’s air, land and water with a regulatory approach that boils down to one simple rule: follow the science,” Armstrong said. “He rejected federal overreach and ideology-based regulation, instead holding firm to a cooperative, common-sense approach that allows North Dakotans to enjoy some of the cleanest air and water in the country as our economy thrives. We’ll miss Dave’s leadership, his expertise and his wry sense of humor. We thank him for his exceptional service and wish him all the best in retirement.”
Glatt was appointed DEQ director in May 2019 by then-Gov. Doug Burgum and reappointed by Armstrong in 2024. Prior to that, he served as chief of the North Dakota Department of Health’s Environmental Health Section from 2002 to 2019. He also previously served as the section’s Division of Waste Management director, interim director of Consolidated Laboratories, Division of Water Quality assistant director, and Groundwater Protection Program manager.
During his long career in state government, Glatt helped implement the Safe Drinking Water Act in North Dakota and was the state project manager for an EPA Superfund project to address high arsenic levels in groundwater in southeastern North Dakota. Through collaboration with government at all levels, industry and citizens of the state, Glatt helped ensure that North Dakota remains a clean air state, maintains high regulatory standards and leads through the efficient implementation of all environmental protection programs.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated professionals and North Dakotans who care deeply about protecting our shared environment,” Glatt said. “They made this work enjoyable, rewarding and meaningful, and I’m deeply grateful.”
Born in Valley City and raised in Milpitas, Calif., Glatt graduated from North Dakota State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in environmental engineering. He briefly worked for the Los Angeles Flood Control District before returning to North Dakota in 1983, joining the Department of Health.
The 2017 Legislative Assembly passed legislation separating the Environmental Health Section from the Department of Health to create the standalone DEQ. On April 29, 2019, DEQ became an independent agency after all programs completed a federal review and approval process.
Currently, DEQ has a two-year total budget of $141.8 million and is authorized for 175 full-time employees in six divisions: Air Quality, Chemistry, Municipal Facilities, Waste Management, and Office of Director.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Valley News Live) — The U.S. Space Force wants to build a $250 million space operations center at Grand Forks Air Force Base as part of President Trump’s 2027 defense budget request.
The facility would be about 180,000 square feet and built as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, or SCIF, designed to handle top-secret information. It would house highly classified missile-warning and missile-tracking operations, as well as the space data network.
The project would bring more than 100 Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office personnel to the base across two to three fully manned squadrons, according to North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer.
“This new project puts Grand Forks right at the center of what’s next in space operations,” Cramer said in a statement. “It speaks to the depth of our Airmen and Guardians’ expertise and why this base keeps getting tapped for the most important and modern missions.”
The facility builds on the low-Earth orbit satellite mission already at Grand Forks, which serves as the backbone of U.S. military communications. Hoeven worked to establish that mission and has been pushing to add missile-tracking and advanced fire-control capabilities.
The three-story facility will include a 500-person auditorium for secure briefings and conferences, as well as a dining area to support 24/7 operations, according to the Space Force.
Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, said he spoke with Space Force Chief of Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman about the proposal this week. He said he will work to secure funding through the annual appropriations process.
Design is expected to start later this year if Congress approves the funding.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
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