Jean Frances Richardson Knutsen Ricke, 1915-2009

RICKE, RICHARDSON, RUSSELL, KNUTSEN, SHAW, WRAGGE, GRUNKEMEYER, FENIMORE, BARTA

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/25/2011 at 08:17:26

ESTHERVILLE - Mass of Christian Burial for Jean Ricke, 94, of Estherville will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Estherville with Father Verne Stapenhorst as Celebrant. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville with Rosary at 7 p.m. Interment will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Estherville.

She died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville.

Jean Frances (Richardson) Ricke, the daughter of Rolland and Kathryn (Russell) Richardson, was born on Aug. 14, 1915, in Anaconda, Mont.

Jean's family moved to Estherville in 1918 and she received her education in the Estherville schools. Following graduation she moved to Long Beach, Calif., where she worked for an inheritance tax appraiser and Associated Telephone Company. In 1938, she returned to Iowa and worked for the Chamber of Commerce and Credit Bureau.

In 1940, Jean was united in marriage to Edgar Knutsen. In 1950, she started as deputy county auditor and she worked there for 30 years. Mr. Knutsen died in 1966. In 1970, Jean was united in marriage to Irwin Ricke.

She was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church; the Altar and Rosary Society; Catholic Daughters of America; VFW Auxiliary; Avera Holy Family Auxiliary; Good Samaritan Auxiliary and Rosewood Auxiliary. Jean enjoyed reading, feeding the birds and squirrels and working with plants and flowers. She and Mr. Ricke enjoyed traveling in the United States, Canada and Mexico and especially enjoyed her children and stepchildren and their families. Mr. Ricke died in 1995.

Jean is survived by a daughter, Karen Shaw, and her husband, Ron, of Westminster, Colo.; two sons, Kim Knutsen of West St. Paul, Minn., and Kerry Knutsen of Estherville; two grandsons, Colin Shaw and his wife, Meghan, of Morgan, Utah, and Matthew Shaw and his wife, Brooke, Vick of Walla Walla, Wash.; three step-children, Jim Ricke and his wife, Beth, of Estherville, JoAnn Wragge and her husband, David, of Tekamah, Neb., and Dick Ricke and his wife, Charlotte, of Omaha, Neb.; six step-grandchildren, Todd Wragge and his wife, Kristi, Heidi Grunkemeyer and her husband, Jim, Jay Ricke and his wife, Danielle, Jill Fenimore and her husband, Aaron, Sarah Barta and her husband, Jon, and Amy Ricke; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Preceding Jean in death were her parents and husbands. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 10, 2009)