Obituary of Marge Knowlton

MARGE KNOWLTON

June, 16, 1929 – July 21, 2020

Marge Knowlton, 91, passed away July 21, 2020, in Minnetonka, MN. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, supportive mother, loving “Nana” to eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, a talented seamstress, beautiful singer and a lover of caramel rolls.

Marge is survived by Ken, her husband of 71 years, and four children: Steve (Margaret) Knowlton of Medicine Lake; Scott (Nan) Knowlton of Roseville; Alice (Jim) Yount of Minnetonka; and Karen (Reade) Bailey of Eden Prairie. Her eight grandchildren are: Tony Knowlton of Plymouth; Megan Daniels of Crystal; Chris (Erin) Knowlton of Wayzata; Dana (Adrienne) Knowlton of Chicago; Jared Yount of Minneapolis; Cally (Nick) Dahl of Portland, OR; Logan Bailey of Eden Prairie; and Sawyer Bailey of Eden Prairie. Her three great-grandchildren are Barrett and Myles Daniels of Crystal, and Odin Yount of Minneapolis. Marge is also survived by her younger brother, Chuck Garr, of Inver Grove Heights, and nephews Mark (Kathy) Lewis of Big Lake, Charlie (Wendy) Garr of Maplewood and Gary (Sue) Garr of St. Paul Park.

Marge was born Margie Jane Garr in Wadena, MN, on June 16, 1929. She was the third child of Charles (Roy) and Alice Garr. Her older siblings were Glen and Phyllis. She loved ballet and tap dancing, and was a cheerleader at Wadena High School and then at St. Cloud State.

As a freshman at St. Cloud State in 1947, Marge met Ken Knowlton, a handsome young WWII veteran who was attending college on the GI Bill. Ken remembers that he would play bridge with the house mother at the rooming house where Marge lived, and he was particularly captivated by Marge’s beautiful red hair.

Marge and Ken were married on June 12, 1949, in Wadena. After stops in Marshall and Two Harbors, Marge and Ken moved to West Saint Paul in 1959. They also lived in Woodbury and Inver Grove Heights before moving to Minnetonka in 2015 to be closer to family.

Ken was a teacher at Henry Sibley High School until his retirement in 1983, and Marge also worked part-time as an elementary school substitute teacher in West Saint Paul. They were faithful members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, where Marge taught Sunday School and sang in the choir.

In 1969, Marge and Ken joined a group of friends and family who purchased land on Long Lake near Park Rapids, MN, and built adjacent cabins. Surrounded first by their children and then later their beloved grandchildren, Marge and Ken spent every summer at the lake for nearly 30 years. Marge’s favorite color was blue and the cabin featured blue paneling, blue curtains and even blue carpet.

Marge was a gifted seamstress who even made the wedding dresses for her two daughters and a daughter-in-law. She loved shopping for clothing, keeping up with the trends and looking good. Marge also liked decorating homes and she and Ken moved frequently so she could indulge that passion.

Marge and Ken’s 71-year marriage was built on an enduring bedrock of respect, love and affection. They shared frequent “smooches” and in the last months of her life, they re-arranged their living room furniture so they could hold hands while watching Hallmark Channel movies.

Marge was eternally positive, optimistic and could find the good in any situation. She was small in stature but large in her faith. That unwavering belief was summed up in her daily prayer, which was pasted on her bathroom mirror:

“I am in the place where God shines through, for He and I are one not two. I need not fear, nor fret, nor plan. He wants me where and as I am. And if I be relaxed and free, He’ll carry out his plans for me.”

Because of COVD-19, a small private family service is being held. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Messiah United Methodist Church, 17805 County Road 6, Plymouth, MN, 55447, to benefit families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.