Phyllis Jeanette Knutson

Phyllis Jeanette Knutson, daughter of Victor H. Gearey and Ethel Sjostrom, was born September 9, 1930 at Pine River, Minn., and passed away Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. She was 77.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 19 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 501 Bogard Road, Wasilla. Pastor Duane Hanson and Chaplain Joe Aleutius will officiate. Her final resting place will be in Pine River.

She was raised in the Pine River area where she attended and graduated from Pine River High School. After graduation she married the love of her life, Harry C. Knutson on April 9, 1949. They had three children, Gerald, Jeanette and Mark.

Their early married life was spent on their farm in Pillager, Minn.. In 1960 they moved to Alaska. Knutson worked as a secretary for the Anchorage School District until her retirement in 1987.

Throughout her life Knutson was actively involved in all aspects of her church, participating in Sunday school and Luther League. She held numerous council positions and was a founding board member in Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America for the Alaska Synod. She was a charter member of St. Mark, Joy and River of Life Lutheran churches and most recently a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wasilla.

She enjoyed knitting, reading and being an enthusiastic supporter of her grandchildren and their many activities.

Her family states, “She was a gentle and humble woman marvelously crafted by a wise and creative God. Her love, humor, joy, faith, grace and wisdom poured into many lives.”

She is survived by her husband, Harry C. Knutson; children: Gerry (Cindy) Knutson of Wasilla; Jeanette (Marc) Spiegelberg of Centralia, Wash.; Mark (Laura) Knutson of Puyallup, Wash.; grandchildren Troy and Michael Knutson, Jason, Arla, Avarie, Jarin and Jardan Ruiz, Peter, Keith and John Spiegelberg, and Joel and Timothy Knutson; great-grandchildren Payton, Sierra, Lane, Alex, Abbygayle, Isabel and Anna; brother Robert G. Gearey; sisters Doris L. Gay and Katherine W. Peters. She will also be missed by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brothers James V. Gearey and H. Clayton Gearey.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Mission Aviation Fellowship, PO Box 47, Nampa, ID 83653, or other charities close to the giver’s heart.