NameGeorge Emmett KNUDSEN
Birth4 Jun 1898, Morris (farm), Grundy County, Illinois
Death8 Feb 1974, Wheaton, Minnesota, hospital
Burial12 Feb 1974, Faith Garden Of Rest, New Effington, South Dakota
ReligionLutheran. Click on George’s name above for an obituary.
OccupationFarmed on state line north of New Effington, SD; moved into New Effington in 1970.
Misc. Notes
George Knudsen, Sr., son of Gabriel and Emma Knudsen, was born in Morris, Ill. on June 4, 1898. In 1910 the family moved to South Dakota, residing in Lien Township. George was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
On June 27, 1925, he was married to Gertrude Melland. They farmed in Lien Township until the fall of 1970, at which time they moved into their present home in New Effington. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church.
On Monday, Feb., 4, he was stricken with a heart attack and entered the Wheaton hospital where he passed away on Friday evening, Feb. 8, 1974.
He is survived by his wife, Gertrude; one son, George, Jr. of Rosholt; two daughters, Betty Lou (Mrs. Lowell Kuklish) of New Effington and Helen (Mrs. Harlan Jacobson) of Honolulu, Hawaii; 7 grandchildren; three brothers, Henry of New Effington, Russell of Paradise, Calif. and Elmer of Groton; two sisters, Gladys (Mrs. Blanchard Wix) of Minooka, Ill. and Agnes (Mrs. Howard Moen) of Lynwood, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Howard, Harold and Ray.
Services were held at Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Conrad Aamodt officiating. The organist was Mrs. Glen Johnson and the vocalist, Mr. Gale Fladland, sang “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” and “Abide With Me”. Following the sermon, based on Psalm 28, verse 7, the audience sang “Lead On, O King Eternal”.
The pallbearers, all nephews of the deceased, were H. David Knudsen, James Knudsen, Stanley Knudsen, Walter Nielsen, Kenneth Knudsen and Ralph Knudsen.
Relatives and friends attended from Jamestown, Lisbon, Minot, Fairmount and Hankinson, ND; Aberdeen, Sioux Falls, Groton, Watertown, Sisseton, Rosholt and New Effington, SD; Minneapolis, Fergus Falls, Breckenridge and Bellingham, Minn.; Colorado Springs and Lyons, Colo.; Conover, Wisc.; Fairbanks, Alaska; Montgomery, Ala.; and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Johnson Funeral Chapel had charge of arrangements with interment at Garden of Rest Cemetery.
Spouses
Birth28 Dec 1899, Morris, Grundy County, Illinois
Death25 Apr 1988, Coteau des Prairies Hospital, Sisseton, SD
Burial30 Apr 1988, Garden Of Rest Cemetery, New Effington, SD
OccupationTeacher-2 yrs in Victor, 4 in NewEff, 1 Kidder, 1 in Rosholt
EducationTwo yrs at Northern State Teachers College, Aberdeen-1915-17
ReligionLutheran. Click on Gertrude’s name above for an obituary.
Misc. Notes
The following is from page 66 of Slekten Reinertsens Stamtavle, a small-format genealogy booklet published in Norway in 1931. The translation was done in 2013 by Robert Eliason:
Gertrude Melland and husband
farmer George Emmelt Knudsen
Mrs. Gertrude Knudsen was born 28th of December 1899 in Morris, Illinois of parents farmer Johannes Mæland and wife Bessie Torkelson.
She went to school in New Effington until 1915 and in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1916 and 1917, and afterwards she was a teacher for 8 years – 2 years in Victor, SD, 4 years in New Effington, SD, 1 year in Kidder SD and 1 year in Rosholt SD.
After her marriage, her occupation was as housewife.
On 27 June 1925, she married farmer George Emmelt Knudsen of parents farmer Mr. Knudsen, born 28 March 1868 and wife Mrs. Knudsen, born 17 November 1880.
George Knudsen has had a farm – presumably in New Effington – the past 10 years.
Their children are:
1. George Eugene Knudsen born 6 February 1927
2. Betty Lou Knudsen born 21 November 1930
[Below that, someone has written by hand:]
George Jr. married Jean Muriel Kuklish on Sept. 4, 1949. They live in a second house on the same farm as his father. Their children are Paul Eugene, born Aug. 19, 1953, and Dale Allen, born Nov. 17, 1956. Betty Lou married Lowell Kuklish Nov. 10, 1950. They live in the Kuklish [... the rest is off the xerox copy and therefore unreadable].
* * * * * *
FROM THE BULLETIN OF GERTRUDE’S FUNERAL SERVICE:
Gertrude Knudsen was born on Dec. 28, 1899, at Morris, Illinois, to John and Bessie (Torkelson) Melland.
Gertrude married George Knudsen, Sr., June 27, 1925. They were the parents of one son, George Jr., of Rosholt, and two daughters, Betty Lou (Mrs. Lowell Kuklish) of New Effington, SD, and Helen (Mrs. Harland Jacobson) of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Since 1911 Gertrude spent her life in the New Effington area. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church. She died April 25, 1988.
Other than her children and their spouses, she is survived by three sisters; Mrs. Mabel Monson, Mrs. Gladys Windh of New Effington, and Mrs. Orval (Bernice) Smith of Watertown, SD. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
The family wishes to thank you for your presence here, and your other expressions of sympathy and comfort.
FROM ANOTHER OBITUARY:
The funeral for Gertrude Knudsen, 88, was Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m. in Faith Lutheran Church, New Effington, with the Rev. Arlo Eidsness officiating.
Organist was Ruth Meyer, and Shirleen Fossum was vocalist. Burial was in Garden of Rest Cemetery, New Effington, Pallbearers were Paul and Dale Knudsen, Tom Jacobson, Richard Lentz, Michael Fischer and Gary Monson. Johnson Fiuneral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Gertrude Knudsen, daughter of John and Bessie Melland, was born in Morris, Ill., on Dec. 28, 1899. The family moved to Lien Township, S.D., in 1911, where she was educated. She taught school for several years.
On June 27, 1925, she married George Knudsen Sr., and the couple lived on their farm until moving into New Effington in 1970.
Mrs. Knudsen because a Rosholt Nursing Home resident in 1985 and remained there until her death April 25, 1988, at Coteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton.
She was preceded in death by her husband and two brothers, Russell and Jerry.
Survivors are a son, George Jr., of Rosholt; daughters, Mrs. Lowell (Betty Lou) Kuklish, New Effington, and Mrs. Harland (Helen) Jacobson of Salt Lake City, Utah; seven grand-children, three great-grand-daughters and three sisters, Mrs. Mabel Monson and Mrs. Gladys Windh, New Effington, and Mrs. Orval (Bernice) Smith of Watertown.
A REPORT OF GERT’S WEDDING from the RECORD newspaper:
A wedding service, marked by its beauty and simplicity, took place at the Brandvold Lutheran church on Saturday evening, June 27, 1925, at 8:30 o’clock, at which time Miss Gertrude Melland of this place was united in marriage to Mr. George Knutson of Hankinson, ND, the Rev. H. A. Wichmann of Eliva, Wis, officiating.
The church was impressively decorated in green and white, ferns being used to carry out the color scheme. The light, being furnished by candles, added to the solemnity of the occasion.
Preceding the ceremony, Miss Gladys Melland, sister of the bride, and Rev. J. L. Falk of Rosholt, SD, sang “At Dawning (I Love You)” accompanied by Mrs. Falk.
To the strains of Lohengrin the bridal procession entered the church. The bride was given in marriage by her father, Mr. John Melland of New Effington. During the ceremony, “I Love You Truly” was played by Miss Falk of Atwater, MN.
The bride was gowned in white crepe satin trimmed in spanish lace, with accessories to match, the veil being caught by sprays of flowers and ferns. She carried a shower bouquet of brides roses and baby breath. Her attendants were Mr. Russell Melland, Miss Gladys Knutsen, sister of the groom, and Miss Mabel Melland, sister of the bride, with Bernice Melland as flower girl.
The matron of honor wore white canton crepe trimmed in spanish lace. The bridesmaids were gowned in georgette crepe and lace, in orchid and yellow, each wearing a corsage bouquet of roses and sweet peas. Rose crepe de chine trimmed in val lace was worn by the flower girl.
The groom was attended by his brother, Mr. Henry Knudsen, Mr. Russell Melland and Howard Knudsen acted as ushers.
After the ceremony, a reception was served at the brides home to the bridal party and immediate relatives. The house was prettily decorated in pink and white.
The groom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Knudsen of Hankinson, ND, and a man of splendid character ability. The bride is the eldest daughter of Mr. John Melland, and one of the most prominent young women, socially and intellectually of the community. She is a graduate of the Aberdeen Normal and a successful teacher of several years experience. She has taught in the New Effington schools, at Kidder, and Rosholt, and holds the warm admiration of everyone by whom she is known.
After a two weeks honeymoon trip through the Black Hills, Mr. and Mrs. George Knudsen will make their home at New Effington.
The Record joins the entire community in best wishes for the future happiness and welfare of this estimable couple.
Marriage27 Jun 1925, Roberts County, South Dakota