Margaret Eileen Knudsen

Margaret Eileen (Turner) Knudsen, age 95, of Park Rapids, MN, passed away on Friday, February 19, 2016 in Park Rapids at Heritage Living Center. Margaret was born July 26, 1920 in rural Lanesboro, MN, the third of five daughters to Claude and Olive (Milne) Turner. She attended grade school at Amherst Town Hall and went on to graduate from Canton High School with the class of 1939. Margaret then went to the Minneapolis School of Cosmetology and graduated in 1940. On February 7, 1942 Margaret was united in marriage to Warren W. Knudsen at the Scotland Prairie Presbyterian Church. This union was blessed with three children: daughter, Dorothy and two sons, Curtis and John. The family made their home in the small town of Canton, MN. In 1953 the family moved to St. Paul where Warren worked as a truck mechanic/semi-truck driver and Margaret worked as a beautician. They were members of Macalester Presbyterian Church where Margaret taught Sunday school and was active in the Women’s Association. She later worked as a mail sorter at the main U.S. Post Office in St. Paul. After the death of her husband in 1987, Margaret moved to Rochester, MN and lived with her sisters. In 2008 she moved to Park Rapids to live with her daughter and son-in-law and after six months went to live at the Heritage Living Center. Margaret was a wonderful cook and homemaker; she will be remembered for her wonderful lefse. She enjoyed spending time with her family, crocheting, needle work and gardening. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Warren; her son, Curtis Warren Knudsen in December 2015; sisters: Eleanor Moore, Lois Peterson and Mary Hahn; brothers-in-law: Rev. Orrin Moore, Conrad Peterson, William Drexler, Dale Hahn, Chellis Knudsen, Howard Knudsen and Dale Knudsen; and sisters-in-law: June Knudsen and Anna Knudsen. She will be lovingly remembered by sister, Frances Drexler; sister-in-law, LaVora Knudsen; daughter, Dorothy Mae (Marvin Clair) Long; son, John Howard Knudsen; daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Knudsen; grandchildren: Ricky Long, Sheri Long, Jason (Karsten) Knudsen and Jerad Knudsen; five great grandchildren: Justin Long, Casey Long, Curtis Knudsen, Andrew Knudsen and Audrey Knudsen as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Scotland Prairie Presbyterian Church near Canton, MN in the spring, officiated by Rev. James Rushton. Honorary urn bearers will be grandchildren: Ricky Long, Jason Knudsen, Sheri Long and Jerad Knudsen and nephews: Tom Drexler and Jerry Knudsen. Congregational hymns will be “In the Garden”, “Nearer the Cross” and “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound”. The piano will be played by Jeneane Rushton. Interment will be made at the Newburg United Methodist Church Cemetery.