Mary Ann Knudson

Mary Ann Knudson, 86, of Pelican Rapids, MN, peacefully returned to God on Sunday, June 13, 2010, at Innovis Hospital in Fargo, ND surrounded by her family. Mary Ann Ottilia was born on August 9, 1923 in Walhalla, ND to Albert and Ottilia (Stidel) Gapp, the oldest of eight.She attended school through 8th grade when she left to assist on the family farm. In 1956, while working at a medical office in Fargo, Mary Ann met Donald Knudson.The two were married on September 8, 1956 and moved to Clifford, ND to start a family.Soon after, they began to farm in Breckenridge, MN and later in Rothsay, MN, where Mary Ann ran the farmhouse and helped raise their eight children. While living near Rothsay, MN, she worked for several years at Beacon Engineering in Rothsay as a bookkeeper.After retiring from farming, she and her husband moved to Pelican Rapids. After her husbands death in 1993, Mary Ann became a volunteer with the Lakeland Hospice.She was an active community member, volunteering with the area ESL program, as well as frequently volunteering for church activities both at Assumption Catholic Church in Barnesville and St. Leonards Catholic Church in Pelican Rapids.She loved to socialize with her senior living community at the High Rise building, where she occupied much of her time organizing and participating in special events, and going to potlucks with old and new friends.Through all of this, Mary Ann kept her family as one of her greatest focuses and sources of joy, and she loved traveling with them, baking, and playing cards with her grandchildren, and watching her great-grandchildren play.She especially enjoyed Christmas time and spending summers at the lake, camera in hand. Most of Mary Anns life was lovingly devoted to caring for other people: in her younger days, as a sister and daughter, later as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, always a neighbor and dear friend.Her family and friends pray that she be received by the Lord with the same diligent kind-heartedness that she bestowed on all who knew her. She is survived by much of her loving family: her children, Julie Ann (Jeff) Holt, Pelican Rapids, MN, Sylvia (Mike) Lunski, Fargo, ND, Ole (Elizabeth) Knudson, Minneapolis, MN, Carolyn Bruels, Winona, MN, Richard (Nona) Knudson, New Baden, Illinois; Roger (Debbie) Knudson, Chaska, MN, and Donna (Chip) Oberg, Georgetown, MN; her wonderful grandchildren whom she adored: Kevin (Katy) Holt; and their twin children, Kaden and Kylee; Scott and Todd Holt; Sarah (Tony) Swartz; Jason and Ryan Lunski; Cary and Kyle Knudson; Andy (Stacy) Bruels, Tim, Matt and Katie Bruels;Karen (Kelly) Lane and David Knudson; Emily and Jacob Knudson and Buck, Kelly, Tyler and Andrew Oberg. Her siblings: Til (Ron) Tellinghusen, Fargo, ND; Art (Marilyn) Gapp, Walhalla, ND; Clarence Gapp, Fort Collins, Colorado, Ray Gapp, Coos Bay, Oregon; and Cecilia (James) Kryzsko, East Grand Forks, MN; and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.She was preceded in death by husband Donald, son Ronald, grandchildren Gregory Holt and Allen Knudson, and brothers Albert and Francis.Memorials preferred to St. Leonard's Catholic Church or Pelican Rapids OAKS (Organizing Acts of Kindness).Blessed Be The Memory of Mary Ann Knudson