Edith Evelyn Knutson

Edith Evelyn (Cornwell) Knutson, 82, passed away peacefully on Feb. 4, 2024, surrounded by family.

Edith (Edie / Dee) was born on Dec. 1, 1941 in St. Edward.

She grew up on a farm with her parents, four brothers, and two sisters.  This is where she grew her love of animals, and over the years she shared many funny stories of her favorite farm animal friends, including her pet pig, and her cats… all the cats.  A happy and outgoing youngster, she was selected to be the mascot for her school’s cheerleading squad, and she remained life-long friends with many of her school friends, attending reunions regularly.  After graduating from high school in Belgrade, she went on to secretarial school in Kearney, and while working in Lincoln she met the love of her life, Elmer Arthur Knutson, in 1961, who was then serving in the United States Air Force.  Edith and Elmer were married in the Methodist Church on Aug. 7, 1962 in Belgrade and went on to have three children: Sharyn Dee in 1963, Susan Diane in 1964, and James Arthur in 1975.  Edith and Elmer purchased their first family home in Glenwood, Iowa, and moved several times over the years to Broomfield, Colo., Springfield, Lincoln, Pocatello, Idaho, North Platte, and finally El Paso, Texas, to further Elmer’s 40-plus year career with the Union Pacific Railroad and to be nearer to family. No matter where they settled, they built a loving family environment for their children and gathered friends like the flowers she loved to garden. Edith was happiest being involved with her children’s and grandchildren’s lives and activities. She and Elmer attended many of Sharyn and Susan’s summer league softball games through the years, as well as all the band concerts and performances you could imagine. Edith was also known to hop on the Platteview High School volleyball or football teams school busses, with James along, to ride to away games to watch Sharyn perform on the cheerleading team, or watch Susan on the volleyball team. Edith and Elmer also cheered enthusiastically for James while watching him play football at North Platte High School, and they continued that tradition years later while cheering on their grandsons, Adam and John, at football and basketball games, and supporting their granddaughter, Sharyn, in cheerleading and music. Edith enjoyed many hobbies including gardening, sewing and quilting, crossword puzzles, and going on trips to visit family and friends throughout the U.S. No matter where they were living, she and Elmer enjoyed driving the kids back to the family farm or other family and friends’ homes for holidays, special occasions, and summer family picnics, not to mention cross-country driving adventures to Mount Rushmore, Walt Disney World, the Grand Canyon, and many others. Those drives to visit and reconnect with family continued when Susan and James went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, respectively, and Edith and Elmer ventured across the U.S. several times to visit them in Michigan, Virginia, Missouri, and Texas. Over the years Edith and Elmer made many life-long friendships with other couples and greatly enjoyed their monthly dinners with these dear friends for several decades. Edith and Elmer remained happily married for over 62 years.

Edith is survived by her husband, Elmer; daughter, Susan; son, James (Cindy); and her three grandchildren, Adam (Bianca), John, and Sharyn.

Edith was preceded in death by her daughter, Sharyn; her parents, William and Blanche Cornwell; her brothers, Leslie, William, James, and Jasper Cornwell; and her sisters, Dorothy and Mary Channer. She loved and was loved deeply, and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass Dr., El Paso, Texas.  Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast.  

Please visit her online memorial at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.