Josephine Knewtson

Josephine “Jo” (Manke) Knewtson, age 94, of rural Good Thunder, passed away Monday, April 4, 2016, at Pathstone Living, Mankato.

Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, April 8, 2016, at the First Christian Church, Garden City.  Interment with Military Honors will be in Garden City Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday at Mankato Mortuary, 1001 N. Riverfront Drive, and will continue one hour before service at the church on Friday.  Memorials are preferred to the First Christian Church or the Maple River Dollars for Scholars.

Josephine was born November 4, 1921 to Edward and Wilhemina “Minnie” (Plagman) Manke in Pleasant Mound Township, Blue Earth County.  She was one of ten children.  She attended a country school near Winnebago, graduating from the 8th grade.  She worked as a housemaid.  She served in the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) Motor Transport during World War II, stationed in Fort Oglethrope, Georgia, being honorably discharged in 1943. On December 28, 1944, she married Ellsworth B. Knewtson.  They had two children.  They farmed in the Garden City and Good Thunder area.  She was a farmwife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Josephine was a long time member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Garden City, where she remained active and served on several boards.  Many of the church’s banners were created and constructed by her.  She enjoyed quilting, a skill she learned from her mother.  She served as a Grey Lady for the Red Cross at the then Immanuel Hospital, Mankato.  She took pride in her yard, garden, and orchard.  Many benefited from her apples, pears, grapes, raspberries, and delicious apple pies.  She was a former 4-H leader and member of a neighborhood extension home study group.  She recently was awarded a “Quilt of Valor” by the Lake Crystal American Legion Auxiliary, where she was a member. 

Josephine is survived by her two children, Shirley (LaVerne) Doering of Good Thunder and Wayne Knewtson of Lake Washington; six grandchildren, Kari (Todd) Schwarz, Tammi (Matt) Greenough, Ryan (Kelly) Doering, Heidi (Nate) Resch, Adam (Nicole) Knewtson, and Aaron (Mindi Spike) Knewtson; twelve great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jerry (Elaine) Manke and Chris (Joan) Manke; two sisters, Francis Truenow and Arlene Marquette; several nieces, nephews, and special friend, Till Brandt.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ellsworth; brothers, Frederick, Kenneth, Robert, and Elmer; sister, Clara; foster parents, Agnes and Julius Reiter; foster brother, Archie Reiter; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.