Ella Knutson

Ella Marie Rosella (Krebs) Knutson was born on July 30, 1915, on the farm place at Cobden, the daughter of Herman and Ida (Smerling) Krebs. She was baptized, confirmed, and united in marriage to Harold Knutson at the Christ Lutheran Church in Cobden. Ella taught school for more than 30 years, mostly at country schools within 12 miles of home. She also taught at Iberia for one year, four years at a country school two miles east of Cobden, two years at another one two miles west of Cobden and for nine years at a school two miles north of Cobden. Ella retired from teaching in 1981 after nine years of service at Sleepy Eye Public School, where she graduated from in 1933. Ella's only place of residence besides the home farm she was born on was St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield. She cared for her mother who was blind for 20 years and bedridden for much of that time. Ella played pump organ for 15 years at Christ Lutheran Church in Cobden and taught Sunday School. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Springfield where she also taught Sunday School. Ella made laundry soap for 65 years and gardened for 80 years; doing lots of canning and freezing of the produce. She loved making apple pies and baking bread. Their favorite pastime was going fishing at local lakes as well as in northern Minnesota. Ella died on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield at the age of 94 years. She is survived by her children - Cheryl (Richard) Schlimme of Ortonville, MN, Duane (Marie Gervais) Knutson of Springfield, and Connie (Linus Wenthold) of Sleepy Eye; 6 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; a brother-in-law - Marvin (Shirley) Knutson of Huron, SD, sisters-in-law - Arlis Hetand of Artesian, SD and Jean Knutson of Billings, MT; and nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband - Harold in 2005; brothers - Otto, Emil, Martin, Edward, and Reinie; and sisters - Martha, Annie, and Bertha.