Rogene Fae Knudsen (Fultz)

Rogene Fae Knudsen, 92, loving wife, mother, grandmother and artist passed away on May 24, 2022 in Blue Springs, Missouri. She was born in Flint, Michigan to Martha and Herman Fultz and attended Graceland College and the University of Kansas. During her twenties and early thirties, Rogene focused on her career and was an esteemed court reporter for Judge Henry Riederer who presided over Division 1 of the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. Rogene would periodically mention her pride in this work for the rest of her life.

In May of 1962, she married Dr. Henrik Knudsen of Son, Norway, and together they started a family in Independence, Missouri, where Dr. Knudsen practiced dentistry. During the family’s early years, they spent frequent summers with Henrik’s family in Norway. Memories from these wonderful times will live in her sons’ hearts forever. In 1974, Henrik and Rogene built a beautiful home on 40 acres in Grain Valley, Missouri, and there they enjoyed many happy years.

Rogene loved nothing more than her family and her home, and she made each birthday and holiday a perfect event. She was so focused on her family that she had few other interests, although she was a talented painter and frequently took courses to hone her skills. Not surprisingly, the subjects she chose to paint were her family, and she created beautiful, photo-realistic paintings of her husband, sons, brother and friends. Her family will treasure these gifts for generations.

She will be greatly missed by her son Henrik, Jr. of Los Angeles, son Erik and daughter-in-law Debbie of Grain Valley, son Kurt, daughter-in-law Heather and granddaughters Katy and Fae of Blue Springs, cousin Lise and her husband Phil Sandage of Blue Springs, cousin Marcia Bray of Independence, her beloved Golden Retriever Fred II and numerous friends and relatives. Rogene was preceded in death by her husband and her younger brother, Dr. Howard L. Fultz of Bellevue, Washington.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of St. Mary’s Hospital in Blue Springs, Missouri for the loving care they gave our mother during the final three days of her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Rogene’s honor to an animal-related or heart health charity. The memorial service was private.