Phyllis G. Knudtson
December 22, 1925 - May 7, 2019

Phyllis Knudtson, 93, of Rake, died Tuesday at Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Rake with inurment at West Cemetery. Her family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Phyllis Gertrude Knudtson was born on December 22, 1925, in Hanlontown, daughter of Philip and Gertrude (Cameron) Karnatz. She graduated from Hanlontown High School and then attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City. She worked in the office at the Biscuit Company in Mason City. Phyllis met her husband, Carl, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, they were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake on December 10, 1949.

Carl and Phyllis built their home in Rake, where they raised their three children, Connie, Phil, and Paul. Phyllis began working, alongside her husband, at the Rake State Savings Bank as a bookkeeper. She was employed there until both of them retired. They were able to spend several winters in Arizona and Texas where they enjoyed golfing and the warm weather. Phyllis stayed in her home in Rake until August of 2015. She moved to the Belmond Assisted Living for six months later she made Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center her home.

Phyllis was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her children and grandchildren loved her Sunday dinners! She usually began her day with a cup of coffee and doing the crossword and crypto quote puzzles in the newspaper. She also played 500 and cribbage with her friends and family. Her favorite board games were Scrabble and Upwards. Phyllis was known for her joke telling (especially Ole and Lena Jokes) and her contagious laugh. She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church.

Phyllis passed away at the Timely Mission Nursing home on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at the age of 93. She is survived by her daughter, Connie Brooks of Buffalo Center; two sons, Phil (Peggy) Knudtson of Belmond and Paul (Colleen) Knudtson of Blue Earth, MN; six grandchildren, Bob (Stacy) Brooks, Bill Brooks, Erik (Christina) Knudtson, Alex Knudtson, Haley Knudtson, and Hanna (Dumitru) Beck; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ruth Ann (Jack) Peterson of Forest City. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Carl on March 27, 2004; a grandson, Jason: her parents; three sisters, Hazel Stangler, Lillian McMullin, and Ruby Swan; and a brother, Robert Peterson.

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