JACKSON: A Celebration of Life Service for Yvonne L. Knutson, 97, of Jackson, Minnesota and formerly of rural Windom, Minnesota will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 18, 2024 at American Lutheran Church in Windom, Minnesota with burial in Lakeview Cemetery in Windom, Minnesota.
Yvonne was called to her eternal rest on Sunday evening, September 22, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Society in Jackson, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 18, 2024 at American Lutheran Church in Windom, Minnesota. Arrangements for the family by the Kramer Family Funeral Home of Sherburn, Trimont and Welcome.
Messages of Sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com
Yvonne Lorelius Swenson was born on March 22, 1927 to Frieda Darr and Carl Victor Swenson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Yvonne was the first grandchild on both sides of her family. Her Mother’s side of the family called her “Dolly”. That name stuck and was very endearing. Soon to follow were the births of many more cousins and she kept track of every one of them. Yvonne grew up on a farm near Lakefield, Minnesota with her sisters, Eleanor and Marjorie. She was baptized in Lakefield and was confirmed in 1941. After her graduation from Lakefield High School in 1945, Yvonne moved back to Minneapolis with her parents and sister, Marjorie. A few years later was needed to help care for her aging grandparents in Windom. She found a job at Worthmore Creamery and while scooping ice cream cones for customers in walked Orville Knutson. He became a huge fan of Worthmore ice cream and the pretty young women serving those cones. He decided to bring her home and show her the farm.
Orville and Yvonne married on April 30, 1955 at American Lutheran Church in Windom and started their lives together. Her flowers flourished and she planted them everywhere making the gray old farm feel alive and joyful. Their family quickly grew to include Mary, Obie and Kevin. Yvonne was an early bird and had a meal on the table and the day planned for everyone. Her dutiful responsibility to make a home made her a wonderful wife and Mother. She worked tirelessly with the animals and crops to make a successful farm.
Yvonne kept close contact with all her family members. She took time to visit in person, by letter and by phone. Later in life she was just thrilled to discover Email. Yvonne had artistic talents to photograph images that captured the lives of her children and grandchildren. She crocheted many blankets and slippers. She could embroider beautiful scenes and sew quilts and clothing. Her cooking skills were excellent and many delicious desserts and meals were enjoyed by all of her family.
Yvonne loved her animals. Her Dog, cat, horse or any barnyard animal to cross her path. She also loved fishing. She would catch, clean and cook up pans of fish. Her fishing companionswere Kevin, Bryan and Tyler. Off they would go in the boat. Her boat. She also had “Her” truck camper. That truck camper went to reunions, fairs, races. She was an outdoor girl. Her table would be covered in maps planning the next “trip” for her and Orville to go on. They traveled coast to coast, Canada and Mexico without GPS or a cell phone. They settled in Texas for 15 winters making many friends there. Yvonne was employed at the Lakefield Creamery, Western Union Telegraph Company, Worthmore Creamery and a farmwife for 52 years. She was a life long member of American Lutheran Church in Windom.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary (Scott) Beckel of Jackson, Minnesota and son, Kevin Knutson of rural Windom, Minnesota; grandchildren, Tyler and Jeni Beckel, Sara and Brad Hoogendoorn, Bryan and Angie Beckel; greatgrandchildren, Emily and Erin Beckel, Dylan, Carter, Jack and Cade Hoogendoorn, Brynn and Brooklynn Beckel; sister, Eleanor Carr of Two Harbors, Minnesota; nieces, Rebecca Niedzielski, Deborah Dinneen, Barbara Hall, Maria Napier, Anita Emerson, Donna Olsen, Lynette Simmons; nephews, Paul Niedzielski, John Carr, Dan Carr and Mike Carr; special friend, Carolyn Paulson and other relatives.
Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Frieda Swenson; husband Orville Knutson on April 4, 2007; grandparents, Nels Victor and Emma Swenson, Riley Clifford Darr and Tilda Johnson Darr; baby daughter, son, “Obie” Obert Karl Knutson; sister, Marjorie Niedzielski; sister-in-law, Iola Knutson Janssen; brother in laws, John “Jack” Carr, William “Bill” Niedzielski and Berend “Ben” Janssen; cousin and friend Patsy Grimes; friend, Pearl Salzwedel, niece, Patricia Niedzielski; nephew, Peter Niedzielski and other relatives.
Yvonne loved life. She loved her family and she loved Christ. Even in the darkest times she kept her faith and knew the ones she loved so much and lost, went to heaven and she would join them there some day. Yvonne “Dolly”, Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Wife, Friend, Mom, Grandma we are truly blessed to have had you in our life.
Family prefers memorials to: Cottonwood County Historical Society or the Jackson County Historical Society