Harriet "Hap" Knutson (1929-2008)

KNUTSON, SAWYER, WELDEN, DEVRIES, DREW, BLOWNEY, JOHNSTONE, CHIAPPE

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 1/26/2008 at 07:56:41

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

Harriet "Hap" Knutson, 78, of 2112 Pine Tree Ct., Clear Lake, Iowa died Tuesday Jan. 8, 2008 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.

Memorial services were held Friday, Jan. 11 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. John's Episcopal Church, 120 1st St. N.E., Mason City, Iowa with Chaplin Barb McCaulley officiating. Visitation was Thursday, Jan. 10 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake and then one hour before the service on Friday at the church. Family suggests memorials to St. John's Episcopal Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

Hap was born Nov. 22, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois the daughter of Lindley and Doris Anne (Welden) Sawyer. She graduated from Carl Schurz High School, Chicago, Illinois in 1947. She then attended and graduated from Ellsworth Jr. College, Iowa Falls, Iowa in 1949.

She worked for Welden Brothers Construction in Iowa Falls as a bookkeeper.

She married Milford "Mick" Knutson Sept. 5, 1953 in Iowa Falls. They lived on a farm near Alden, Iowa until moving to rural Garner in 1957. In 1990 they retired from the farm and moved into Clear Lake.

She enjoyed playing with her grandchildren, woodworking, sewing, gardening, baking and being a Hospice Volunteer, her St. Bernard Dogs and the pigs. She was very active in the Ventura School System while her children were in school. She was a vital member of the St. John's Episcopal Church.

Hap is survived by her husband, Milford "Mick" Knutson, Clear Lake, Iowa; three children, Shelley Knutson, Ventura, Iowa, Matt Knutson and his wife Bonnie, Clear Lake, Iowa and Todd Knutson and his wife Kristi, Ventura, Iowa; five grandchildren, Mindy DeVries and her husband Levi, North Liberty, Iowa, Megan Drew and her friend Justin Birkhofer, Garner, Iowa, Colton, Carlie and Isaac Knutson, Ventura, Iowa; one sister Ruth Ellen Blowney, Rolling Meadows, Illinois and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant son Timothy Donn; three brother-in-laws
Myron Johnstone, William Blowney, Larry Chiappe and two sisters Mary Anne Johnstone and Nancy Lou Chiappe.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, Iowa 50428. 641-357-2193. www.colonial chapel.com.