Shirley Irene Knudtson

Shirley Irene (Dreager) Knudtson

May 16, 1926-July 28,2025

Shirley was born on a farm southwest of Atlantic, Iowa to Lois (Howard) and Leo Dreager. Her father died in a farm accident when Shirley was five years old, so she and her mother moved into Atlantic where Shirley attended school and graduated in the class of 1944 from Atlantic High School. She was employed as a secretary at Swift & Co. where she met Arnold Knudtson, and the couple was married on September 6, 1947at Zion Lutheran church in Atlantic, the church where Shirley had been baptized and confirmed. Shirley and Arnold were married 62 years until his death in 2009.

The newly married couple lived first in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota then moved to Harlan in 1948 when Arnold took a job as office manager and, eventually, partner at Wilson Seed. They became the parents of three children: Lynn, Lucinda, and Lee. Family was her greatest joy. Shirley was employed for twenty-two years by the Harlan Public schools as a cook.

Shirley was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran church, serving on the Altar Guild, teaching both Sunday school and Bible school, and participating in a circle. In her community, Shirley was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary serving as president and other offices. For many years, she was a volunteer Myrtue Hospital Auxiliary member, and when her boys were young, she was a Cub Scout den mother.

Shirley remained in Harlan after the death of her husband, but sold her house and moved to Omaha in 2021 to be closer to her children and their families. She spent the last four years at Immanuel Courtyard assisted living where she made many new friends and received excellent care.

Throughout her life, Shirley was devoted to her family, her faith, and her community. Over the years, Shirley was able to have many adventures and travel, but she was always most comfortable at home with family and friends. Her circle of friends included the families of Esther and Charles Gearhart, Doris and Willis Towne, and Forrest "Pete" and Dorothy Petersen. When she and her close friend, Doris Towne, both became widows, they would often be seen hanging out at Burger King for morning coffee.

Shirley's surviving family includes her three children, Lynn (Maria) Knudtson, Cindy (John) Masters, Lee (Cathy) Knudtson; six grandchildren, Christopher (Mary)Knudtson and Peter (Rhiannon Rognstad) Knudtson, Andrew (Shauna) Masters and Emily (Aaron) McBride, Brian (Amy) Knudtson and Katie (Brian) Uitts; eleven great-grandchildren, Ronan Knudtson and Caroline Knudtson, Michaela Masters, Lillian and Natalia Knudtson and Madelynn (Ethan) Nutter, Brenden, Cohen, Gavin Saab, and Lili and Austin Uitts and number twelve due soon. She was a kind and generous woman who is now reunited with her husband, her mother, and a father she had not seen in ninety-four years.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests memorial donations be made to: Immanual Lutheran Church in Harlan; Immanual Village in Omaha, NE; or Alzheimer's Association.