Anna Emilia Knudson

Anna E. Knudson, 94 of Devils Lake formerly of Fort Totten and Starkweather, ND died early Tuesday morning, July 29, 2008 at the Edmore Memorial Rest Home. Funeral Services for Anna will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Rafe Allison will officiate and burial will be in the Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Cemetery, rural Starkweather. Visitation will be held on Wednesday (Today) from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and time of sharing at 8:00 p.m. Visitation on Thursday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Anna will be Bill Whitehead, Layne Koch, Clem Schnase, Cassidy Schnase, Adam Houck and Christopher Houck. Honorary Bearers will be the caring staff of the Edmore Memorial Rest Home; Heartland Care Center; and all of Anna’s dear friends and neighbors. Anna Emilia was born on March 3, 1914 at the family farm, Sullivan Township, rural Starkweather, ND the daughter of John and Marie (Nedrebo) Mellin. She grew up and attended school in the Starkweather area, graduating from Starkweather High School in the class of 1931. She attended Valley City State Teacher’s College for one year. She returned to the Lake Region and she and her cousin, Amanda began working at the Employee’s Club at Fort Totten. There she met and married Bjarne Knudson on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1936. They lived for a short time in Starkweather, then established their home at rural Fort Totten, where they farmed and ranched and raised their family. Anna served as the Clerk of the Fort Totten Public School for many years and also worked at the Fort Totten Post Office and Dakota Trading Post In 1972, they moved to Devils Lake where they would live through the years. After moving to Devils Lake, Anna worked with their son, John and his wife, Penny at the Branding Iron Western Shop for over 25 years as bookkeeper. Anna and Bjarne treasured over 70 years of marriage until his death on January 22, 2007. Anna was very active in the Homemakers/Sewing Club at Fort Totten. She was also a life member of the Sons of Norway and the Rebekah Lodge. She was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church. Anna was very gifted in the crocheting, quilting and sewing department, sharing her creations with her family and friends. She loved gospel music and those glorious hymns of faith. In later years, Anna and Bjarne enjoyed traveling and visited almost every state in the US including Alaska! They also went to Norway and Sweden. But Anna’s true dedication and devotion was to her faith and her family. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her love, laughter and joy beyond measure. Anna is survived by her children: Joyce and her husband, Frank Whitehead John Knudson and his wife, Penelope all of Devils Lake Grandchildren: Ann (Dana) Houck, Maria (Layne) Koch, William (Kim) Whitehead and Laurel (Clem) Schnase. Great Grandchildren: Adam, Mattias, Christopher and Jenna Houck; Joshua and Kristina Koch; Ryan, Megan and Natalie Whitehead; Cassidy, William and Amanda Schnase. Many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Anna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bjarne; brothers, Edwin Mellin and Albert Mellin and sister, Helen Erickson.