Katherine Knutson, of Newfolden, MN, passed away on June 3, 2022 at the age of 92 at McIntosh Senior Living, in McIntosh, MN.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Westaker Free Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN.  Burial will follow at Westaker Cemetery, rural Newfolden, MN.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, with a 6:00 PM Prayer Service on Friday, June 10, 2022 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.  Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Katherine Othelia (Lee) Knutson was born April 16, 1930 in Marsh Grove Township, Marshall County, MN to George and Carrie (Kolstad) Lee.  She went to Sunnyside Country School and Newfolden High School graduating in 1947.

She went to Bemidji State Teachers College where she graduated with a 2-year Elementary Education degree.  Katherine went on to teach at Bena, MN, Starbuck, MN, Twin Valley, MN and Thief River Falls, MN where she taught until 1959.

Katherine married Mervin Knutson March 7, 1959 and had 3 children, Kristy, Arlene and Mark.  She helped Mervin on the farm, always had a garden and picked many berries for sauces and jellies.

In 1966 she decided to return to teaching which required a 4-year degree. Through correspondence courses and eventually moving the family to Bemidji, MN Katherine finished on-campus classes and graduated in 1967.  The following fall she started teaching 5 ^th grade at Washington Elementary in Thief River Falls, MN.  She retired from teaching in 1991 after teaching 30+ years.  Katherine remembered all her students and was always happy to see them years later.

Katherine always enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and Canada from her time in college with friends and throughout her and Mervin's married life.  Katherine was also active in the church.  She taught Sunday School and was Sunday School superintendent for many years.  She served on the Ladies Aid and was on many committees.  After she retired, she was involved with Christian Women's in Thief River Falls.

Katherine moved to Green Leaf Assisted Living in Thief River Falls in 2019.  In 2021 she moved to McIntosh Senior Living where she was lovingly cared for.

Katherine is survived by daughters Kristy (Layden) Hanson and Arlene (Kevin) Delaney and son Mark (Sue) Knutson; 7 grandchildren, Kari (Jared) Hanson-Park, Logan Hanson, Kaeley Rolland, Skyler (Maja) Rolland, Mitchell Knutson, Tyler Knutson, Caleb (Tatum) Knutson, great-grandson Rylee Rolland, niece Karen Lee, nephew Tim (Char) Lee, cousins Raynard Huglen, Shirley Hanson, and Sharon Kunka.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Mervin in 1992, granddaughter Lauren Hanson, brothers Thorvald (Violet) Lee and Gordon Lee, brother-in-law LeRoy "Buddy" Knutson and several cousins.