Arlene Edna Knutson

Arlene Edna Kruckenberg Knutson, passed away on Wednesday, October 27, 2010, at Medcenter One, Bismarck, after a brief illness these past few months. She was 72 years young. Services will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, October 31, 2010, at English Lutheran Church, Tuttle, with Rev. Valerie Kinlan officiating. Burial will be in the Tuttle Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00 Noon until 7:00 pm Saturday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Arlene was born at home, in rural Beulah, ND, and delivered by Grandma Wiedner, the daughter of Henry L. and Clara Unrath Kruckenberg on June 23, 1938. She was a granddaughter to Mercer Co. pioneers. Arlene was baptized on July 24, 1938, at St. Luke?s Lutheran Church, Zap, ND, with godparents, Carl and Margaret Unrath Newberger. She was confirmed on August 7, 1955, at St. John?s Lutheran Church, Arena, ND. Arlene received her elementary and high school education at Wing, ND, and graduated from Wing High School in 1958. Arlene married her soul mate, Carl Knutson, on September 22, 1958, at the English Lutheran Church in Tuttle, ND. They were married for 52 years and spent their lives on the family farm east of Tuttle. Arlene had a burning desire to be a nurse, but was unable to achieve her goal, so she bloomed where she was planted. She worked at Golden Manor, Steele, ND, for 13 years. She served her community and world outreach with a servant?s heart thru life membership of German?s from Russia, making over 200 quilts for an orphanage in Landau, Russia, lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, including serving as secretary for the past 12 years and four months. Arlene coordinated and served for Bingo, WELCA of Tuttle English Lutheran Church, lamp lighter to Aid Association for Lutherans, served as secretary for 25 years on the English Lutheran Council, soloist for weddings and funerals, sang in the church choir and first responder with the Wing Ambulance. She also served on the board of directors for Council for Aging, volunteered as a driver for food bank and commodity?s, chaired the quilting project at English Lutheran Church, served as a Eucharistic pastor for the church and was a Sunday school teacher and vacation bible school instructor, and was a champion for letters and cards to the military abroad and in the hospital. Arlene?s passion was cooking and baking for local functions and family gatherings. She loved her collection of books that entertained her for many hours. She encouraged her grandchildren with many gifts of books which was her way to share the love of reading. Arlene loved to have family gatherings at the farm and cooking for all who came. Everyone always looked forward to her homemade buns and baked beans. In the earlier years, Arlene enjoyed her large vegetable gardens. Arlene is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Carl, rural Tuttle; her daughter, Carlene Cay Roth and her husband, Donald, Tappen, ND, and her three grandchildren, Alec age 13, Benjamin age 11, and Allison age 8; her son, Gary Dean Knutson and his wife Jodi, Bismarck, ND, and her two grandchildren, Matthew age 13 and Samantha age 13; her siblings, Viola V. Ervin Schielke, Beulah, ND, Clayton Marjorie Kruckenberg, Minot, ND, Clinton Wanda Kruckenberg, Hemmingferd, NE, Betty Kenneth Kroll, Bismarck, ND, Marlys James Schock, Boise, ID, Arlys Charles Crump and Dwight Claudia Kruckenberg, all of Ashland, MO; 19 nieces and nephews; 27 great-nieces and nephews; and two great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Clara Kruckenberg; grandparents; aunts and uncles; one brother, Milton; one nephew, Clifford Kruckenberg; and one brother-in-law, Oliver Knutson.

Arlene Edna Knutson

June 23, 1938 - October 27, 2010