Arthur George "Art" Knorr, longtime Sawyer area farmer died on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada at the home of his son and daughter-in-law. He was 94 years young.

Art was born on December 1, 1913 on the family farm in Brillian Township of Ward County south of Sawyer, ND to George and Caroline (Faul) Knorr. He was raised on the family farm, attended rural schools in that area and graduated from Velva High School in 1932. As a student there, he received the Future Farmers of America State Farmer Award. Following his graduation from Dakota Business College in Fargo, he was employed by Union National Bank in Minot, ND where he served as bookkeeper, cashier, and internal auditor for seven years. Art married Doris Olivia Natwick on June 5, 1938 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot. They made their home in Minot. He resigned his position at the bank in 1943 to pursue a career in farming, moving his family to a farm in Brillian Township of Ward County, south of Sawyer where he raised small grains and livestock. Art and Doris enjoyed numerous winters in the Phoenix Arizona area. Following his retirement from farming in North Dakota they moved to Minot in 1983. Doris died on April 29, 1988. Never one to be idle for very long, Art became involved with his sons in an Arizona farming operation in 1994. He resided there and in Minot prior to moving to Las Vegas to reside with his son and daughter-in-law in February of 2007.

Art was a 4-H leader for several years. For a number of years, he served as the president of the Sawyer School Board, P.T.A., and Sawyer area school annexation and reorganization committee. Additionally, he served on the Sawyer Farmers Elevator Board and was appointed by former governor, John Davis, to organize and serve as a board member of the ND Wheat Commission. He was instrumental in organizing and served as the first president of the Ward County Farm Bureau. Raising Polled Hereford Cattle was one of the many farming activities that he especially enjoyed.

Arthur is survived by his children: Gene (Lorelei) Knorr of Rio Verde, AZ; Robert (Cheri) Knorr of Lake Audubon, ND; Carol Hazelbower of Phoenix, AZ; Paul (Connie) Knorr of Las Vegas, NV; Mark (Carol) Knorr of Velva, ND; and Kay Knorr of Phoenix, AZ; 16 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; sister-in-law: Helen (Larry) Sand of Everett, WA, brother-in-law: Herman Marten of Minot, ND, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife of 50 years, Doris; sisters: Hilda Haugeberg, Esther Haugeberg and Alma Marten and grandson, Patrick Knorr.

Funeral Service: Friday, February 1, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. in Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot
Interment will follow at Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot
Visitation: Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Prayer Service: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Bethany Lutheran Church or an organization of the donor's choice.