Connie R. Knutsen, 65, a longtime Kimball resident, died on Monday, June 8, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer.   Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the First English Lutheran Church in Kimball with Pastor Donella Silveira officiating.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.  Memorials may be given to either the First English Lutheran Church, Prairie Haven Hospice of Scottsbluff or Kimball Health Services Foundation.   Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.Connie was born in Sidney on August 28, 1943, the daughter of Kenneth and Avis (Bogle) Richards.  She lived on a farm north of Bushnell as a child.  The family later moved to Mitchell where Connie was raised and attended school.  She graduated from the Mitchell High School in 1960.  She attended Parks Business College in 1962.  Connie worked at the Kimball Bank and various other banks in the area.  She was married to Jerry Knutsen on August 30, 1964 in Kimball.  Connie worked with Jerry for many years in their business, Knutsen Oil, Marv’s LP Gas, and Jerry Knutsen, Inc.  She was a very dedicated mother, grandmother and homemaker.  Her faith, family and friends were very important to her.  Connie was a member of the First English Lutheran Church, she was a Kimball Health Services Foundation Board Member, very active in the Community Concert Association and the Geneology Society.Survivors include her husband Jerry of Kimball; daughters Pamela (Dan) Smith of Parker, CO and Julie (Gary) Franklin of Gering; brother Tom (Mary) Richards of Thousand Palms, CA; grandchildren Kristen and Aidan Smith and Jack and Tyler Franklin.  She was preceded in death by her parents.