69-Tell Them About The Pentagon With Benny Knudsen (Dad)

I had so much fun interviewing my parents that I asked them to come back so I could interview them individually!

I know, it’s mostly for my family, but, I’m sharing it with everyone because I love history. I love hearing about how life was 80 years ago.

Maybe you do, too!

My dad, Benny Knudsen, was born in Mesa, Arizona (not far from where I live now!) in 1937. 

The entire family worked the farm, milked the cows, and then later bought a fruit farm. They worked tirelessly harvesting peaches and selling crops to whomever would buy them.

And every night they would gather around and play music. 

Music has been the cornerstone of my life, and it’s incredible to me to hear the stories about how that came to fruition. 

When I get Dad alone and ask him tons of questions, he tells me stories I’ve never heard him tell! 

What life was like on a farm in the 30’s and 40’s, how he learned all the instruments he knows how to play, and how it was so scandalous to go play for a dance band (which we would describe as big band old-timers music now!) I guess my Grandma was horrified and thought he was going straight to hell!

He rounded up friends to harvest and sell peaches so he could buy his first saxophone, and he found a career with the Air Force where he could be a full-time musician and not starve. 

I learned more details about him meeting my mom in college, their courtship and engagement. And his experience as a Mormon missionary back east in the late 50’s.

I realized I come from a long line of hard-working entrepreneurs who worked 24/7 to do everything they could to feed their families, and that’s beautiful to me.

My dad can only remember one family vacation to Yellowstone where they slept on the side of the road in a tent on their way there!

Life was so different back then, and I’m thrilled to be able to capture a piece of history with my Dad’s memories and stories.

Thanks for allowing me to share a bit of my family history! I know we will cherish these interviews for lifetimes to come.

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*Music credits: Dean Dahlia
https://soundcloud.com/dean-dahlia/if-not-today

Thank you for listening! God bless you!