In Memory of Beatrice Knudsen
Visitation
Thursday, December 27, 2007 after 5:00 PMCasket Bearers Drew Knudsen, Lynn Knudsen, Rodney Knudsen, Carroll Stone, Tom Langgaard, Todd Plowman, Gerald Miller, Martin Nead
Honorary Casket Bearers Janelle Langgaard, Lisa Plowman, Stephne Miller, Andrea Nead, Michelle Sarratt, Cindy Knudsen, Rose Knudsen, Rachel Knudsen, Erica Stone
Interment Orange Township Cemetery South of Coon Rapids, Iowa
Inez Beatrice, daughter of Peter Herman and Mary Esther (Barnes) Sievers, was born at the home of her maternal grandmother in Manning, Iowa, on December 25, 1917. She attended Manning School half-way through the tenth grade (with the MHS class of 1936) when her family moved south of Coon Rapids. She did baby sitting for David and Steve Garst and in the winter, worked for Garst & Thomas Seed Corn Company sorting corn by hand.
Beatrice was united in marriage with Leonard Andrew Knudsen on February 5, 1938, at the Lutheran church parsonage in Council Bluffs. That same year, she was confirmed into the Lutheran faith. Three children were born to this union. The couple lived with Leonard's parents south of Coon Rapids for a year, and then moved to a farm in Viola Township, Audubon County, Iowa. In 1944 they returned to his parents' farm south of Coon Rapids where they made their home. Throughout the years, Bea was actively involved in the farm work and was a dedicated homemaker. After Leonard's death in 1972 Bea remained on the farm for about a year before building a new home in Bayard. Bea worked as a cook at Thomas Rest Haven and as cooking supervisor at Bayard High School from 1968 through 1977. After the death of her daughter Carol, Bea was committed to helping raise Carol's children. In 1996 Bea moved back to Coon Rapids.
In her spare time, Bea enjoyed cooking and crocheting, but her specialty was making quilts. Each of her grandchildren received a quilt made by Grandma Bea. Bea was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids and was an active member of the church circle. She was also a member and officer of the Orange Township Needle Club.
In 2006 when she was no longer able to remain in her home, Bea became a resident of Thomas Rest Haven nursing home in Coon Rapids. Bea was hospitalized on December 21, 2007 and died late December 24, 2007 at Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center at the age of 89 years, 11 months and 30 days.
Preceding Bea in death are her parents; husband Leonard; daughter Carol Stone; son Kenneth Knudsen; brother Lyle Sievers and his wife Shirley; brother-in-laws Nels Knudsen, Lester Knudsen and wife Katie, and Warren (Bud) Knudsen and sister-in-law Gladys and husband Charles Miller.
Bea is survived by her son Richard Knudsen and wife Betty of Coon Rapids and daughter-in-law Judy Knudsen of Coon Rapids; son-in-law Jerry Stone; nine grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister Ila Knudsen of Mesa, AZ; brother Merlin Sievers and wife Claribel of Coon Rapids; sister-in-law Betty Knudsen of Neillsville, WI, and brother-in-law John Knudsen and wife Irene of Audubon; nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.