DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) — The Red River Valley celebrated Mark Knutson’s legacy this weekend.
On Saturday, hundreds across the region shared memories, laughs, and tears honoring Knutson one week after he was killed by a truck towing a boat while riding his bicycle.
“I’ve lived here for ten years. He just moved here. But, seeing him on the lake, on his boat, in his element, just happy up at Detroit Mountain. He was doing so many good things for this community. He did a wonderful job with Fargo, now he was here in Detroit Lakes. It’s really sad. We’re gonna miss him. He was just beginning and that’s going to be hard for this community,” said Onalee Sellheim.
The longtime manager of Fargo Marathons recently took over as the GM of Detroit Mountain, where his employees say they’ll miss his presence.
“He was one of our main managers. We saw him every day. Super nice guy. Always said hi whenever he saw you. We’re both big into running, obviously because we’re here. Every time he got the chance, he would come up and just talk to me about how my running was going and I’d talk to him. He was just a great guy,” said Thor Erickson and Seth Torgerson, who worked with Mark at Detroit Mountain.
Saturday morning, the F-M region marched to Detroit Lakes to run along the lake to honor his legacy. A tribute for Mark is set up where Muir Lane intersects with South Shore Drive. It’s near the area of the crash.
“He literally would give the shirt off his back to anybody to help them. That’s what it’s all about. It wasn’t about running. Yes, it was the whole thing of the community but he was truly impactful. That’s what this outpouring of the community and the people showing up here today is not about running. It’s about how he impacted their life and he would help them, no matter what. He put, always, others before himself. just remember that together we need to keep on making sure we keep that going and not forget what Mark did in everybody’s lives,” said Kirk Anton.
According to Detroit Lakes Police Chief Steve Todd, surveillance footage shows Knutson losing control of his bicycle and falling into the path of the passing pickup and boat trailer, driven by 42-year-old Jacob Grabowski of Fargo.
The incident remains under investigation, but Todd said it doesn’t appear the driver violated any law.
