April 24, 1916-April 1, 2012
HUTCHINSON - A private family service for Oceanna Knutson, 95, of Hutchinson, formerly of Cottonwood will be at 1 p.m. today from the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel in Echo, with burial in the Cottonwood City Cemetery. A public reception will be from 3-5 p.m. today at the Cottonwood community Center in Cottonwood. Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association of Echo and Wabasso are in charge of the arrangements.
She died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at the Harmony Living Center in Hutchinson.
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Oceanna Marie Knutson was born April 24, 1916, to John and Ella (Pfarr) Wilson in Ivanhoe. She was baptized Nov. 26, 1922, in Centuria, Wis. Growing up, she lived at a few different farms with her family in the Ivanhoe, Cottonwood and Marshall areas.
On Aug. 27, 1937, Oceanna was united in marriage to Alvin Knutson on his parents' farm south of Marshall. Over the years, they made their home at several different farms in the Marshall and Cottonwood areas and upon retirement moved into Cottonwood. In 1997, they moved to Hutchinson to be closer to family. After Alvin's death on Nov. 14, 2004, Oceanna remained in the Hutchinson area at the Harmony River Living Center. She was a housekeeper all her life from the time she was 16 until the age of 80 when she finally retired.
Oceanna always put her family first, they were very important to her, but also enjoyed quilting, sewing, cooking, rug weaving and gardening.
She is survived by her two sons, John "Jack" of Las Vegas, Nev., and Alvin Jr. of Pecan Gap, Texas; four daughters, Patricia (and Charles) VanMoer of Tracy, Betty (and Fritz) Schwermann of Hutchinson, Julie (and Bill) Macrae of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and Susan (and Jim) Schultz of Delano; two sisters, Marge Gigstad of Marshall and Viola Green of Oro Valley, Ariz.; 23 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; son-in-law Martin Wells; nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Alvin, daughter Delores Wells, brothers Robert Wilson, Harold Wilson and Virgil Wilson, sisters Dorothy Schmidt, Maxine Smith, Violet Wilson and Edna Minnick, and daughter-in-law Shizue Knutson.
Blessed be the memory of Oceanna.