Boyd Albert Knackstedt, 81, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, January 30, 2015, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

Boyd was the only son of Albert and Viola (Schletzbaum) Knackstedt and was born in Little River, Kansas, on April 30, 1933.  He had three older sisters, Bernadine, LaVerta and Joyce.  He lived with his family on several different farms in McPherson County, Kansas.  When he was almost 6 years old his parents bought a farm in Marshall County, Kansas.  The farm was only about half a mile from the town of Bigelow.  He grew up on the farm and attended school through 8th grade in Bigelow.  Later, he graduated from Frankfort High School in the class of 1951.  As a boy he worked very hard helping his father on the farm driving the tractor, bailing hay and working in the grain elevator.  The money he earned allowed him to pay his own way through high school.  As a boy, he liked to go on all night fishing trips with his family and he was a catcher on the town soft ball team that was known as being a hard team to beat.  Boyd continued to work on his father's farm the summer after graduating high school.  Being a bad year for crops his father could not afford to pay him, so he took a job working highway construction  in Russell.

Boyd met, fell in love and was united in marriage to June Price on June 26, 1954, in Russell at the Otterbein United Methodist Church.  From this union Boyd and June were blessed with 4 children Buddy, Nancy, Dennis and Barbara.  Along with their own children they helped raise two nephews James and Robert Oliva.  In 1957 Boyd went to work for Kansas Power and Light and worked for them for nearly 35 years.  He retired on his 59th birthday, April 30, 1992.  He and June are both longtime members of the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell.  He enjoyed working as a Boy Scout Master for troop #106 for several years.  He enjoyed camping, fishing and was rather famous for his blueberry pancakes.  He also enjoyed playing card games, bridge and Yahtzee.  Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife June of the home, son Boyd W. “Buddy” Knackstedt of Russell, daughter Nancy J. Woodyard (Wayne) of Chanute, Kansas, son Dennis R. Knackstedt (Beth) of Winfield, Kansas, daughter Barbara A. Volle (Mark) of Axtell, Kansas; nephews James H. Oliva of Topeka and Robert C. Oliva of Ely, Minnesota; grandchildren Gregory, Elsabeth, Anna, Darcey, Bridgett, Brett, Gabriel, Matthew & Bradford; great grandchildren Chloe and Landon.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 sisters Bernadine Corbin, LaVerta Fore and Joyce Lord.

A celebration of Boyd's life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, February 06, 2015, at the Otterbein United Methodist Church with Pastor Earl Haggard and Pastor Jim Alexander officiating.  Burial will follow the service at the Russell City Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, February 05, 2015, at the mortuary with family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Thursday evening.  Memorials may be given to the Russell Food Pantry and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.