KNUDTSON, Phyllis E. 1930-2013

KNUDTSON

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 4/25/2013 at 00:01:43

Phyllis Elaine (Skram)(Erickson) Knudtson

Kensett, Iowa — Phyllis Elaine (Erickson) Knudtson, 82, Kensett, died Monday, April 22, 2013, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, Iowa.

Funeral service for Phyllis will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 600 Fifth Street, Kensett, with Pastor Tom Martin officiating. Burial will be in the Kensett Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. on Friday at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. South, Northwood. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Saturday at the church.

The family would like to suggest that those wishing to give a memorial in her memory, may wish to direct them to Bethany Lutheran Church.

Phyllis Elaine Skram was born on July 20, 1930, in Mason City, the daughter of Peder and Emma (Sorenson) Skram. She was baptized in 1930, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton, and confirmed in 1944, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Kensett where she was a life-long member. Phyllis was educated in and graduated from Kensett, and graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City with an A.A. degree in 1950. She also graduated from Drake University with a B.S. degree in 1966.

Phyllis was united in marriage to LuVerne “Bud” Erickson on December 28, 1950, in Kensett. He preceded her in death in January 1995. She was united in marriage to Truman Knudtson on October 10, 1998, in Kensett. He preceded her in death in November 2007.

Phyllis was the organist at Bethany Lutheran Church in Kensett beginning in 1952, playing for 55 plus years, and was a long time choir director.

Phyllis retired in 1993, after 32 years of teaching in the Northwood-Kensett Community schools.

Phyllis was very actively involved in the Kensett Varity Show, and played for many funeral and weddings. Phyllis enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, and going to all of their school activities. She also loved to travel, traveling twice to Norway.

Those left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, LuAnne Nelson of Wenatchee, Wash., and JoAnne Millard of Northwood; six grandchildren, Jonathan (Kelly) Geerlings of Fort Myers, Fla., Doug Millard of North Liberty, Trent Millard of Cedar Falls, Trisha Millard of Rochester, Minnesota, Eric Nelson of Seattle, Wash., and Katie Nelson of Seattle, Wash.; two great-grandchildren, Avery and Taylor Geerlings of Fort Myers, Florida; two sisters-in-law, Marcille Skram of Mason City, and Ruby Erickson of Yuma, Arizona; as well as other extended family members and friends.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Peder and Emma Skram; her two husbands, LuVerne “Bud” Erickson, and Truman Knudtson; her brother, Arthur Skram; and a brother-in-law, James Erickson.

Conner Colonial Chapel, 641-324-1543 www.colonialchapels . com.

Mason City Globe Gazette, April 24, 2013