Bernice Knutson, 95, died Sunday, April 01, 2007 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at Silver Creek Lutheran Church in rural Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Gary Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Silver Creek Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Tuesday, April 3, 2007 with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral at Silver Creek.

Bernice Knutson was born on February 27, 1912 at home on the family farm in Excel Township, Marshall County, MN the daughter of Gunsten and Gunhild (Stalemo) Knutson, the youngest of seven children. She was baptized and confirmed at Silver Creek Lutheran Church and attended Loftnes Country School where her sister Selma was one of her teachers.

Bernice lived and worked on the family farm most of her life and was a caregiver for her family. She enjoyed raising turkeys and gardening. She had her own garden until 2006. Bernice always enjoyed knitting, church quilting, crocheting, canning, cooking, baking and especially enjoyed making lefse. Bernice worked out during the depression in the 1930s in Hibbing as a house keeper and nanny, and at that time lived with her sister, Anne and her husband, Arthur Johnson.

In 1973, Bernice started working at Valley Home in Thief River Falls in housekeeping and as a cook until 1977. In January of 1983 she moved from the family farm to an apartment in Thief River Falls and in 1993 moved to Oak Lodge where she has continued to reside.

She was a member of Silver Creek Lutheran Church where she was very active, and was active in her garden club, homemakers club, Christian Womens Fellowship, and various Bible studies. Bernice spent her entire life serving God by serving others.

Survivors include nephews, Harley (Vivian) Knutson of Thief River Falls, Jerry (Jan) Knutson of Anoka, MN, and Alvin (Dee) Knutson of Brooklyn Center, MN; nieces, Judy Olson of Brooklyn Center, MN and Karen Knutson of Brooklyn Center, MN; great nieces, Connie (Bill) Stock, Virginia (Mark) Swanson, and Valerie (Pete) Mattison; great nephew, Kevin (Paula) Olson all of Thief River Falls and Gene Knutson of Warroad, MN; other great nieces and nephews also survive along with several great-great nieces and nephews and great-great-great nieces and nephews; she is also survived by Marlene Beedy and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; six brothers and sisters, Annie, Otto, Selma, Knut, Harry, and Thorvald; nephew, Glen Knutson; nieces, Mavis Hillyer, Burnell Johnson, and Arlene Rehm; great nephew, Gary Knutson.

Special Music: Bridgette & Mathew Bitzegaio
Accompanist: Carmen Gustafson
Selections: In The Garden & Softly And Tenderly
Congregational Hymns: What A Friend We Have In Jesus & The Old Rugged Cross
Casketbearers: Rob Stock, Mathew Bitzegaio, Pete Mattison, Mark Swanson, Kevin Olson, Mike Beedy, Jared Swanson, Mark Beedy