Clarice Ann Schmitz was born August 20, 1932 in Crookston, MN the daughter of John and Anna (Pahlen) Schmitz. She was baptized August 28, 1932 at St. Marys Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls, MN and confirmed June 18, 1944 at St. Marys Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls, MN. Clarice attended 1st through 8th grades at St. Josephs School, Red Lake Falls from 1937 until 1946 and attended 9th and 10th grades at Lafayette High School, Red Lake Falls from 1946 until 1948.

She was united in marriage to Donald Henry Knott on June 28, 1950 at St. Marys Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls. The couple lived in several locations in and around Red Lake Falls and in 1964 they purchased a farm in Browns Creek Township in Red Lake County where they have lived since. Through the years along with raising 10 children they also farmed small grains and milked dairy cattle.

Clarice worked at St. Johns Hospital in Red Lake Falls from October 1, 1979 until September 3, 1983. She worked at Hughes Elementary in Red Lake Falls from October 3, 1983 until May 1987, and was currently working at the Villa St. Vincent in Crookston where she had worked since September 8, 1987. In August of 1992 Clarice was awarded the Quality Care Award for the month in recognition of outstanding commitment and performance as a member of the Villa St. Vincent Quality Care Team.

She enjoyed camping, sewing, gardening, baking, spending time with her husband, Donald, and her children and grandchildren. Clarice was a member St. Josephs Catholic Church of Red Lake Falls, Catholic Daughters and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband Donald, Red Lake Falls; 10 children, Geri (Richard) Lambert, Red Lake Falls, Douglas (Kathie) Knott, Red Lake Falls, Susan (Don) Shnyder, Red Lake Falls, Greg (Sandy) Knott, Red Lake Falls, Julie (Jon) Peterson, Thief River Falls, Mary (Les) Arlt, Red Lake Falls, Laurie (Dave) DeHaan, Red Lake Falls, Pam (special friend, Kerry Erickson) Knott, Red Lake Falls, Rebecca (special friend, Kevin Borreson) Ellingson, Red Lake Falls and Jason (Jannelle) Knott, Red Lake Falls; 26 grandchildren, Derek, Kristin, Mark, Stephanie, Todd, Kurt, Kimberly, Mindy, Nikki, Jennifer, Rachel, Carmen, Lisa, Maggie, Jeremy, Aaron, Dustin, Benjamin, Angela, Dakota, Phoenix, Kayler, Tristan, Lynn, Brooke, Hollie; 5 great grandchildren, Nicholas, Courtney, Emily, Blake, Clarice; brothers, Sylvester (Helen) Schmitz, Red Lake Falls, Louis (Jean) Schmitz, Farmington, MN, Leonard Schmitz, Farmington, MN, John (Rose) Schmitz, Thief River Falls, Tony (Crystal) Schmitz, Bagley, MN; sisters, Elizabeth Gerard, Fargo, ND, Lucille Desotel, Clarissa, MN, Marilyn Newton, Euclid, MN; sister-in-law, Helen Schmitz, Red Lake Falls; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents John and Anna Schmitz; an infant daughter, Ann in 1963; 3 brothers, Joe, Vincent, and David; and one sister, Margaret Cuno.