Shelley Knutson

Shelley Beth Knutson, 58, 2174 243rd St., Ventura Heights, Iowa, died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.  

     A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 120 1st St. NE, Mason City, with the Reverend Wendy K.  Abrahamson officiating. Visitation with her family 

will be Thursday, Jan. 24, 5 – 7 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, and one hour preceding the service at the church.  Inurnment will take place at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.  According to her wishes her body has been cremated.  Memorials may be given to the Humane Society or St. John’s Episcopal Church in her memory.

     Shelley was born Aug. 28, 1954 in Iowa Falls, Iowa, the daughter of Milford and Harriet (Sawyer) Knutson.  She graduated from Ventura High School in 1972.  She attended and graduated from Ellsworth College, Iowa Falls as an office secretary; then went to work for the University of Iowa where she worked at the hospital in the office.  She then moved to Mason City and worked at the Golden Goose and Harbor Inn.  Shelley continued her education at NIACC in 2001, graduating in 2003.  She was inducted into Phi Delta Kappa National Honor Society for a GPA of 3.5 or higher.  

     In the midst of her battle of the last eight years with cancer and bone marrow treatments, she had courage and was strong, taking care of her pets and animals.  Shelley’s life was shared with her family, along with many pets.   She enjoyed gardening, cooking (feeding her sweet tooth), and riding her horse.  She loved going to Waverly horse sales, and her yearly trips to Galina, Ill.  Shelley was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Mason City.  

     Shelley is survived by her father, Milford “Mick” Knutson, Clear Lake; two brothers, Matt (Bonnie) Knutson, Clear Lake, and Todd (Kristi) Knutson, Ventura, Iowa; five nieces and nephews, Mindy (Levi) DeVries, North Liberty, Iowa, Megan (Justin) Birkhofer, Meservey, Iowa, Colton, Carlie and Isaac Knutson, all of Ventura; great-niece, Ayla Birkhofer; and great-nephew, Jack DeVries.

     Shelley was preceded in death by her mother, “Hap” Knutson; and infant brother, Timothy Donn Knutson.

     Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapelwas in charge of arrangements.