Sept. 16, 1932 – March 22, 2025
Laurice Kneeskern, daughter of Cora (Severson) and Louis T. Peterson, was born September 16, 1932, in rural Fillmore County near Hutton. She attended Preston schools, was active in vocal and instrumental music, school newspaper and honor society, graduating in 1950. Upon graduation she worked as a secretary at Hormel in Austin, Minn. On October 14, 1950, she married Cloy Kneeskern at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Preston where Laurice had also been baptized and confirmed. She continued working at Hormel and Cloy worked there as well. In May 1951, Cloy was drafted and after completing basic training at Camp Gordan he was assigned to the Signal Corps school in Fort Monmouth, N. J. Laurice drove out to New Jersey and they shared a house in Long Branch with Cloy’s friend and his wife. Laurice got a job as a secretary at the base and being close to NYC, many joyful weekends were spent there sightseeing and going to baseball games at Yankee Stadium, Polo Grounds (Giants), and Ebbets Field (Brooklyn Dodgers). Those two National League teams meant they were able to see Cloy’s beloved Cardinals play at times.
When Cloy was sent to Germany, Laurice came back to Preston, stayed with her parents and got a job working for Bill Thompson in the abstract office. Cloy got out of the service in May 1953 and they returned to Austin – Cloy was training to be a hog buyer and Laurice worked in the Hormel office again until Gary was born. Soon Cloy was sent to Iowa where they lived in Denison for a couple years and then in Audubon for 35 years. Cloy took early retirement in about 1973 and started raising hogs and we also operated several restaurants there. The years in Audubon were filled with the joy of watching their six children grow up and create so many memories of their successes in their studies, involvement in music, drama, and sports. Cloy and Laurice retired and moved back to Preston in 1991 and soon were spending time in Florida, California or Hawaii for three of the coldest winter months. They were joined by family and good friends during those times.
Laurice was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her son (Mark), her daughter (Sheri), infant brother (Francis), her sister and husband (Maxine and Tom Jones), sister and husband (Shirley and Tom Austin), sister-in-law and brother-in-law (JoAnn and Lyle Miller), and sister-in-law (Gert Kneeskern).
She is survived by sons Gary and Dave Kneeskern, daughters Sandra (Mike) Welch and Beth Kneeskern, grandchildren Trista (Adam) Rowland, Tommy (Chelsea) Welch, Katie (Tyler) Igielski Welch, and Annie Kneeskern; and great-grandchildren McKenzie (Landon) Bance, Carson Rowland, Olivia Welch and Amelia Igielski Welch; and brother-in-law Wayne Kneeskern.
Laurice always felt such warmth and love from her family and thanked God for the blessings she received. The joys of being together, the trips they planned, and their kindnesses made life good for her. As the years went on, the family mourned their losses and celebrated their blessings together. Thanks be to God.
From Laurice’s family: We have been so blessed to have Laurice as our mom, grandma, great-grandma, aunt and cousin. She was the light of our lives, a sweet and gentle presence at every gathering, and a perfect example of how to live a life of joy and giving. We will miss her greatly, but know that she is now with her Lord and those who went before her.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 29 from 10-11 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, 810 3rd Ave SE, Rochester, Minn. This will be followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. and a luncheon at the church at noon. In lieu of flowers, Laurice requested that memorials be given to Mayo Cancer Research or Bethel Lutheran Church.
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