Clifford Wayne Knudtsen was born Sept. 18, 1927, to I. Maude and Clifford E. Knudtsen in Saskatoon, Saskatch-ewan. At the age of 12, he and his parents moved to Coeur d'Alene from Canada when his father and uncle purchased the Chevrolet dealership from W.Z. Cooper. It opened as Knudtsen Chevrolet Co. on June 12, 1939.

Wayne attended Coeur d'Alene High School, graduating in 1945 and enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. After basic training in San Diego and a brief station in Bremerton, Wash., he was sent to Farragut Naval Station where he assisted in closing the base at the end of WWII. From there, he attended the University of Idaho as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration in 1950.

While attending the University of Idaho, he met Pauline "Polly" Lawson, whom he married in September of 1951. They made their home in Coeur d'Alene where he worked in the family business. They had two children, Eve and Eric. Polly and Wayne were divorced in 1998, and Polly preceded Wayne in death in May of this year.

Wayne took over the operation of the dealership in 1955 after his father suffered a stroke. He bought out his uncle, also named Wayne, in 1971 to become the sole owner of Knudtsen Chevrolet until 1983, when daughter Eve purchased a small percentage of the business. Wayne transitioned the operation of the dealership to Eve in 1995, when Chevrolet Motor Division appointed her Dealer. In 2005, Eve and her brother Eric purchased the rest of Wayne's interest in the dealership.

Wayne purchased the Toyota dealership from Bill Fishfader in 1983 and partnered with Doug Parker to transform Northwest Toyota into Parker Knudtsen Toyota. Doug purchased Wayne's interest a few years later, and the dealership became Parker Toyota.

Wayne successfully relocated Knudtsen Chevrolet twice during his career. In 1966, the dealership relocated from its original location at 4th Street and Coeur d'Alene Ave. to 1710 N. 4th St. in Coeur d'Alene. In 2002, the dealership moved from Coeur d'Alene to its current location in the Post Falls Auto Plex along I-90 in Post Falls.

Wayne married Charlene "Charlie" Bratton in 1998. Wayne and Charlie enjoyed the last 10 years of his retirement traveling and at home with friends. Wayne was very fond of his three step-daughters: Delena Bratton of Sacramento, Calif., Cindi Thoma of Midland, Texas, and Billie Years of Boca Raton, Fla.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Charlie; daughter Eve Knudtsen of Coeur d'Alene; son Eric Knudtsen of Post Falls; and granddaughters Brianna and Cailyn Knudtsen, and Lauren Benedict.

Viewing is from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. 4th St. in Coeur d'Alene. The service for Wayne will be at noon on Thursday, Nov. 13, at Lake City Community Church, 6000 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d'Alene, with burial at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens following. A celebration of his life will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Hayden Lake Country Club.

Memorial donations may be made to United Way of Kootenai County, 501 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814; Inland Northwest Council, Boy Scouts of America, 411 W. Boy Scout Way, Spokane, Wash., 99201; and River City Hospice, 3726 E. Mullan Ave., Post Falls, Idaho 83854.

Please visit Wayne's online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.