Donna Knutson

Donna M. Knutson, age 92, resident of Ashby, Minnesota, died on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at the Ashby Living Center.

Donna Maxine Torgrimson was born on December 6, 1929 in Eagle Lake Township in rural Ashby, Minnesota, to Helmer A. and Lily (Wedin) Torgrimson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Grue Lutheran Church. She attended District 114 school in Eagle Lake Township.

Before her marriage, Donna worked for Minnie Ellingson’s boarding house in Ashby, bottling milk, cleaning, ironing, and cooking.

On May 17, 1947, she married Gordon E. Knutson at the First Lutheran parsonage in Battle Lake. After their marriage, they spent a short time in Wadena, then returned to the Ashby area where they farmed.

She worked at the Standard Station Café and the City Restaurant, after this time, Gordon and Donna purchased the City Restaurant where they successfully owned and operated for six years. Donna waitressed, cooked and baked at the restaurant. Her pies and baked goods were loved by many.

Donna enjoyed traveling with Gordon, cooking, baking, reading, sewing and crocheting. She made many beautiful blankets, afghans and doilies. Most of all Donna loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren!

She was a homemaker for most of her life, and spent many wonderful years in their Ashby home raising their family where she was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and was very kind and loving to everyone she met. After Gordon passed away, Donna moved to River Bend Apartments in Fergus Falls. In April 2018 she moved to Ashby Living Center where she resided until her death.

Donna is survived by her daughters: Patricia (Gordon) Thorstenson of Battle Lake, Susan (Steve) Clow of Fergus Falls, and DeEtte (Pete) Amstutz of Nixa, MO; nine grandchildren: Tony Thorstenson, Erik Thorstenson, Michael (Jennifer) Dyrhaug, Kurt (Dayna) Dyrhaug, Kelley Shaw, Chad (Karla) Clow, Amy (Ron) Erickson, Megan Amstutz and Michael Amstutz; ten great-grandchildren: Josh Dyrhaug, Chase Dyrhaug, Carter Dyrhaug, Charlie Shaw, Jacob Shaw, Ben Shaw, Erik (Kalee) Clow, Ella Clow, Maren Clow and Mykayla Clow and one great-great grandchild, Ezra Clow.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, her parents, a daughter, Barbara Dyrhaug, son-in-law, Curt Dyrhaug, grandson, Vaughn Thorstenson, brothers, Oris and Palmer Torgrimson and sisters Lois Knutson and Anola Amundson.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 2:00PM at Glende Nilson Funeral Home in Ashby with visitation one hour prior to the service at the Funeral Home.

Interment will take place at Pelican Lake Cemetery Immediately following the service.

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Ashby