OBITUARY: Helen M. (Thompson)(Bless) Knudsen, 1928-1998, Mitchell Co., Iowa

(Originally published 12 Aug 1998; Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City, IA)




                           Helen M. Knudsen

ST. ANSGAR,IOWA -- Helen M. Knudsen, 69, of rural St. Ansgar, died Monday
(Aug. 10, 1998) at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

Funeral services will be on Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeter-
ville, with the Rev. Dr. David H. Palm and the Rev. Barbara Finley-Shay
officiating. Burial will be in the St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral
Home, St. Ansgar.

Helen M. Knudsen was born Oct. 13, 1928, in Worth County, to Orlando H. and
Ida G. (Johnson) Thompson. She was baptized on Nov. 11, 1928, at Shell Rock
Lutheran Church, Northwood, and confirmed on May 7, 1944, at Deer Creek
Lutheran Church, Carpenter.

She graduated from Northwood High School and then from Iowa State Teachers
College in Cedar Falls. She taught in various area schools.

Helen married Darold Bless on June 14, 1952, at Deer Creek Lutheran Church,
Carpenter, in a double ceremony with their brother and sister, Marion and
Howard.  Helen and Darold were married for 31 years until the time of
Darold's death in 1983.  Helen then married Thomas Knudsen on Jan. 1, 1991,
at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville.

Helen was a member of the St. Ansgar Garden Club and also a state flower
show judge. She was an active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, serving
in various church offices.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one brother.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas, of St. Ansgar; two sons, Doug Bless
of Toeterville, and Dennis Bless of Edina, Minn.; two daughters, Bonnie
Bless-Boenish of Sequim, Wash., and Kimberly Taets of Basalt, Colo.; one
brother, Harvey Thompson of Fairfield Bay, Ark.; one sister, Marion Bless
of St. Ansgar; eight grandchildren; two step-sons, Anders Knudsen of
St. Ansgar, and James Knudsen of St. Ansgar; step-daughter, Ruth Smillie
of Atlantic; 11 step-grandchildren; and two foster sons, Cam VanLam and
Binh VanLam, both of Sioux City.



     Copyright 2005 - Don Grell