Norgean Knafla

Norgean Knafla, 91 year old resident of Sauk Rapids, MN died Tuesday, March 15 at the St. Benedict Center in St. Cloud, MN. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 23 at 11:00 A.M. at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls with Rev. Gary Hendrickson officiating. A visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the hour of the service on Wednesday at the funeral home The burial will be held at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Sauk Rapids, MN. Norgean Celestine (Cossairt) Knafla was born June 19, 1930 in Kimball, MN to Simon Edgar and Adella (Brinkman) Cossairt. She was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids in 1944 and graduated from Sauk Rapids High School in 1948. On June 12, 1949 she married Kenneth C. Knafla and they were married for 54 years until his passing in 2003. Their union was blessed with three children: Gerald, Kenneth Jr., and Janelle. Nor...[more]

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n worked at the Village Drug in Sauk Rapids, Coborns of Sauk Rapids for 21 years as a cashier and Hallmark card supervisor, and for 7 years in food service at the Sauk Rapids High School. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids where she served on fellowship and as a greeter. She was also a member of the Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992 Auxiliary. At a dance in July of 2005, she met Michael Philippi. Together they enjoyed traveling, music and dancing, her life's passion. She also enjoyed the many friendships she formed from these events. Norgean enjoyed cooking and entertaining, playing bingo, shopping, playing cards with family and friends, especially Unlucky 7, and cherishing the time spent with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Gerald (Patricia) Knafla of Little Falls, Kenneth (Karen) Knafla of Sartell and daughter, Janelle Knafla of Sauk Rapids; significant other, Mike Philippi; grandchildren, Tonya (Lance) Enneking, Jeff (Kim) Knafla, Katie (Seth) Pollard, Callie (Don) Opheim, Eric (Laura) Knafla; 10 great-grandchildren - with one on the way; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Carol Behrendt; 6 nieces and 1 nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ken; brother Clinton; sister-in-law Audrey; brother-in-law Clifford Behrendt; godchild Nancy Behrendt and nephew Ronald Behrendt. Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Norgean.