He was there in uniform, behind the wheel of a patrol car. He was there in council chambers, listening more than he spoke. He was there on porches and sidewalks, answering questions that weren’t always polite but were always taken seriously.

Knudson spent his life practicing a simple discipline that’s harder than it looks: he showed up.

Born and raised in Lewistown, Knudson graduated from Lewistown Area High School in 1971. He joined the Lewistown Borough Police Department in 1975 and later rose to sergeant and patrol lieutenant with the Mifflin County Regional Police Department. He approached the job with seriousness that didn’t end when a shift did.

“He never brought work home,” his wife, Lisa, said. “He never breached confidentiality. But he carried it.”

Submitted photo
Stephen Knudson poses in his Lewistown Police Department uniform.

Mike Britt, a former Lewistown police detective who worked alongside Knudson, said that sense of responsibility showed in the quiet moments after reports were filed.

“You’d find him laboring over his notes,” Britt said, “or on the phone trying to track down witnesses or leads. When no one was looking, he was thinking about what else he could do to solve a case or prevent crime.”

Britt said Knudson believed policing worked best when trust existed between officers and the people they served.

“Police officers can become complacent and untouchable,” Britt said. “Steve didn’t allow that to happen. He was always visible. Anyone could approach him. That builds trust.”

That visibility extended beyond police work.

Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish, a former Lewistown girls basketball coach, recalled a moment as the team’s bus left town for a state championship game.

“As we headed into the Narrows, Steve was outside his patrol car with his lights on,” Kodish said. “As the bus went by, he stood there and saluted us. I’ll never forget that.”

Knudson later brought that same steadiness to borough council.

Lewistown Borough Council President Matt Moore said Knudson came prepared, spoke deliberately and carried himself with composure.

“Steve thought out his answers very clearly before he brought his words to the table,” Moore said. “He was very dedicated to what went on.”

Moore said Knudson focused on police and fire issues, wanting to ensure first responders had what they needed to do their jobs safely. He also paid close attention to finance and personnel matters.

“He never got boisterous during council meetings,” Moore said. “He always held his composure.”

Knudson emphasized community safety over statistics and often addressed conflict first through conversation.

“He was a good negotiator,” Britt said. “He tried to de-escalate. If that didn’t work, he was firm and did what was necessary. Fair treatment was always the goal.”

Retirement in 2008 did not end his service. He returned to the Lewistown Police Department as a community service officer and later returned to the council table.

“He lived, ate and breathed trying to make this community better,” Lisa said. “It wasn’t a job for him. It was who he was.”

At home, Knudson and his wife shared a quiet life built on routine and companionship.

“He was the calm to my storm,” she said.

Fishing offered Knudson space away from the demands of the job.

“He always said fishing saved him,” Lisa said.

Knudson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009 and later faced congestive heart failure and other health challenges. Even as his mobility declined, his faith remained important to him.

“His speech wasn’t the greatest at that point,” Lisa said. “But he gave the most eloquent prayer I ever heard.”

In the weeks since his death, Lisa said she has heard from many people who shared stories of how Knudson treated them.

“I knew what he did,” she said. “But I didn’t realize how broad it was.”

Knudson focused on fairness, listening and showing up. Over time, those choices left a lasting impression on the community he served.