With family at her side Mary Ann (Peterson) Knutson, age 76, died peacefully on February 2, 2016 at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls from a brain tumor.
She was born on May 14, 1939 at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, MN, the eldest child of Stanley Waldemor Nathanial Peterson and Anna Mae (Jacobson) Peterson and reared to adulthood on a three-generation Minnesota Centennial Farm near New Richland, MN. She attended the one-room District 48 rural school for eight years and graduated from New Richland High school in 1957 with her desire to become a nurse. She was awarded the American Legion Citizenship Award.
Mary Ann attended the Methodist Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, MN graduating with her RN in 1960. She remained in Rochester for three years while working at Methodist Hospital as a shift supervisor. Originally planning to head to Alaska she instead ended in Seattle, WA where Mary Ann was employed by Swedish Hospital where she met her future husband, Dennis Knutson, a medical student. They were married on June 20, 1964 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, MN. After returning to Seattle to complete her husband’s medical degree their first son, Eric was born in 1966. Following one year in St. Paul, MN for her husband’s internship where she was a supervisor at Capitol View Nursing Home, they spent two years (1967-69) at Richards Gebaur AFB near Kansas City, MO where their second son, Brian was born in 1969. Additional moves for her husband’s training and employment brought them to Portland, OR (1969-1974), Rochester, MN (1974-75) during which she was a mother and homemaker and finally to Sioux Falls, SD where they settled in 1975.Mary Ann was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where she served on the church council, the executive committee and as president of the Lutheran Church Women. She was a past member of PEO and a founding member of the Junior Service League. From her days in 4H she continued as a talented sewer and created many beautiful quilts during her lifetime. She also enjoyed playing mahjong and cards with friends. Besides serving as a volunteer for local hospitals and Meals on Wheels, her favorite occupation was being the best wife, mother, and grandmother she could be as well as being loved by her extended family. Everyone who met or knew Mary Ann was touched by her gracious nature, her beautiful smile, and her humility. She was good at paying attention to details but always in the context of the “big picture” and knowing what was important while giving wise counsel from a practical viewpoint. She loved attending all the musical and sporting events performed or played by members of her family and was their greatest fan. Along with her husband she was honored by Augustana University with the first annual Augustana University Friends of Music Award for 2015-16.
Her favorite retreat was spending summers at the family lake cabin near her childhood home and being the hostess for many happy gatherings.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, her sons Eric (Amy) Knutson, Brian (Kristin) Knutson, her grandchildren Christopher, Daniel, Kayla, Sarah and Andrew, all from Sioux Falls, her brother Robert (Darlet) Peterson of New Richland, MN, sister, Jane Rasmussen, Apple Valley, MN, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceding her death were her parents, her brother-in-law, Donald Rasmussen, a nephew, Todd Peterson, and a great nephew, Preston Peterson.
Services for Mary Ann’s Celebration of Life and Love, will be Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 11 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 33rd and Summit, in Sioux Falls. She will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be Friday, February 12 at the Downtown Miller Funeral Home from 1 to 7 with family present from 4 to 6.
Recommended memorials in Mary Ann’s name can be directed to the the Avera Foundation Children’s Travel Fund, PO Box 5045, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5045; Augustana University Music Department, 2001 South Summit Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57197; Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Foundation, 909 W 33rd St., Sioux Falls, SD 57105; or a charity of one's choice.