Born: 20 Mar 1904, Holmes City twp, Douglas Co, MN
Died: 17 Oct 1916, Brandon, Douglas Co, MN
Buried: Trysil-Bethesda cemetery, Holmes City, Douglas Co, MN
Park Region Echo, Alexandria, MN. Oct 24, 1916. p 8, col 1
Death of Young Girl
Ruth Knutson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Knutson, died Tuesday evening, Oct. 17, at 5 o’clock. She had been ill with pneumonia for a week and her recovery was thought impossible the last two days. Ruth suffered patiently. Everything possible was done for her.
Ruth was born near Holmes City March 20, 1904. She was a bright little girl, her smiling face always cheering others and winning friends wherever she went and for that reason she bore the name “Smiles” by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed not only in her home but by relatives, schoolmates, teachers and friends. This death was especially sad owing to the absence of the father and on account of the recent departure of her older sister, Mrs. Anton Holing to her new home in North Dakota. Mr. Knutson had accompanied the Holings and did not get back until after the little girl had passed away.
The funeral took place from the home at 9:30 Friday morning and from the Free Church at 10 a.m. Rev. Andrew Olson of Morris, who had been Knutson’s pastor while they lived at Holmes City, officiated. The church was filled with people. The whole school attended and the floral offerings were many and beautiful. Among them was a beautiful harp from her schoolmates.
From here they proceeded to the Trysil church near Holmes City, where a number of their relatives and friends had gathered, Rev. Lindseth officiating. She was buried in the church cemetery.
The pallbearers were Morris Tronbol, Orrin Meckstroth, Raymond Meisner, Sylvester Dickenson, Phillip Hanson and Theodore Larson.
Besides her parents, Ruth leaves to mourn her loss, four sisters, Mrs. Anton Holing, Rose Glen, N.D., Mrs. Victor Beroud, Martha and Alma Knutson of Brandon; and seven brothers, Martin of Kennedy, Minn., Delphin of St. Cloud; johannes, Arthur, George, Leander and Andrew, all of Brandon. They were all present at the funeral except Mrs. Anton holing, and her half brother and sisters: Halvor, Bertha, Maria, Kate* and Christine*, who live on the Pacific coast.
Ruth, though only a young girl, had a keen sense of her divine Savior and was a faithful attendant of the Sunday school and other religious services when she could go. The truths learned in the Sunday school proved a great comfort to her in her illness, she repeating them and the Lord’s prayer until too weak to speak.
* The names of Kate and Christine are in error and should be listed as Alette and Anna. ~TF