Obituary: Knutson, Margaret Marie (Hansen)
Age 86
She was born April 21, 1926 to Captain Raymond T. Hansen, DDS & Charlotte Bills Hansen in Vinton, Iowa.
She grew up in Vinton but, after her mother died, moved with her family to Brownwood, Texas in time to graduate from Brownwood High School in 1944.
Margaret received her RN at the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa, as part of the Cadet Nurse Corps in 1947.
She moved to Santa Barbara, CA in 1950, with her husband and first two children.
In the following few years, three more children were added to the family.
Margaret worked at Santa Barbara County Hospital, and Vista Del Monte Retired Teachers Home until 1979.
Retiring from these jobs, she started work at the Orange County Outdoor School in Running Springs CA, where she worked until 1999.
Her weekends were spent working at Forest Home Christian Conference Center, a minor emergency clinic, or All Nations Camp, a respite camp for the developmentally disabled.
She loved reading, crocheting blankets and snowflakes, spending time in the outdoors and helping people.
She learned to ski in her fifties and spent some of her time off assisting handicapped skiers.
Margaret was active in the Lutheran and Presbyterian churches of the communities she called home.
For many summers, Margaret came north and served as the camp nurse for Camp Lutherhaven on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
For many years, she taught CPR classes and volunteered with the Girl Scouts.
She retained her nursing license and worked as a private duty nurse, finally retiring from nursing at age 85.
Margaret donated her body to the Medical School where she studied nursing.
Her final resting place will be Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton, Iowa, beside her parents, and sister Theo Jane Rentschler.
She is survived by her five children: Charlotte Knutson, Bellingham, WA, Karl Knutson, San Diego CA, Peggy (Donald) Patterson, Kenneth (Jennifer) Knutson, Jr., Spokane, and Barbara Casort, Bellingham, WA.
Margaret is also survived by nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She leaves behind two beloved sisters Ruth VanDenover Kobey, and Alice Eads, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services will be held Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 316 E. 24th Avenue, Spokane WA.
In her memory, do a kind deed or contribute to the organization of your choice.