Jean Knudsen

Jean Knudsen, 83, New Effington, SD, died Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center, Breckenridge, MN.
Funeral services were Friday, July 15, at 2:30 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington with Pastor Harold Watrous officiating. Music was provided by organist Debra Bredvik.
Burial was in the Garden of Rest Cemetery, New Effington. Honorary urn bearers were the New Effington American Legion Auxiliary and the Faith Lutheran Quilting Group. The active urn bearer was Scott Anderson.
Visitation was Friday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Jean Muriel Kuklish was born March 7, 1928, to Bennie and Inga (Hovey) Kuklish at their farm home in Lien Township, Roberts County, South Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed at the Lutheran Free Church in New Effington. She completed her elementary education at Lien #4 Country School and graduated from New Effington High School in 1946. She attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN, for two years and then taught Home Economics at Clayton, WI, for one year.
On September 6, 1949, she married George Knudsen, Jr., at Brandvold Lutheran Church near Victor, SD. This date was the 52nd wedding anniversary of her grandparents, Louis and Catherine (Katie) Kuklish, who attended as special guests. Jean and George spent their life together on the Knudsen farm, except for two years in Texas during which George was in military service. Jean was very active in the community and was a charter member of Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, infant son David Lee, brother Lowell Kuklish, brother-in-law Harland Jacobson, and sister-in-law Helen (Knudsen) Jacobson.
She is survived by her husband and best friend George, their two sons, Paul and his wife Barb of Tulsa, OK, and Dale and his wife Margaret, and grandchildren Karl, Ben, and Grace of Loretto, MN, sister-in-law Betty Lou Kuklish of Fargo, ND, four nieces, one nephew, many cousins, and friends near and far.
Jean will be remembered forever as constant companion to George, as a loving mother and grandmother, for her concern and connection to family, friends, and community, for her hand-made gifts and baked goodies, for her love of travel and new adventures (always on-the-go), and for only seeing the good and the positive aspects in all people and all situations.