Obituary: Freitas, Marla
One of them being her home made buns, “moosey buns”, as her brother Roger called them.
Out of the oven, they were pure heaven.
Marla loved providing delicious home made meals for her family and friends.
She and her husband, Collins, enjoyed ministering and volunteering their time playing music and spreading the word of Jesus Christ at senior care centers in Olympia and Spokane, Washington.
Marla was a member of the Gideon’s International since 1974.
She was born in April, in the year of 1944 in Kenmare, North Dakota to the late Emanuel and Doris Mortenson and was raised in Kenmare along with her brothers Dean and Roger and sister Linda.
She was confirmed at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Kenmare in 1958 and graduated a Kenmare Honker in 1962.
She loved going back to North Dakota for family and high school reunions.
Marla married Timothy Knutson, son of Theadore and Inga Knutson, in December of 1962 in Kenmare.
They had four sons; Shawn, Jeffrey, Kelly, and Jason.
Marla married Norman Tysseland on June 9, 1973 in Spokane where they lived and raised her sons on Five Mile Prairie.
They sent her sons to Mead and Northwest Christian High Schools where Marla enjoyed volunteering her time.
The family had a small strawberry and raspberry farm on Five Mile and was known to keep “classic cars” in their pasture.
Marla was also known for her strawberry rhubarb pie and, along with Norman, enjoyed ministering to the elderly in the community and passing out bibles through Gideon’s International.
Marla was a loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister and friend.
Marla is survived by her husband: Collins Freitas, three sons: Jeff and Linda Knutson of Davenport, Washington, Kelly and Jennifer Knutson of Colville, Washington, and Jason and Lori Knutson of Dallas, Texas.
She is also survived by her five beloved grandchildren who were so special to her: Kelti, Gunnar, Bree, Noelle, Lily, and Luke Knutson, her siblings: Dean and Glenda Mortenson, Linda Elliot and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Doris and Emmanuel Mortenson, her eldest son Shawn Knutson, her younger brother Roger Mortenson, her first husband Timothy Knutson and her second husband Norman Tysseland.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00p.m., Friday, September 4, 2015 at Spokane Faith Center, 3330 W. Central Ave, Spokane, WA.
Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Fairmount Memorial Park, 5200 W. Wellesley, Spokane, WA and reception to follow at Spokane Faith Center.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gideon’s International.