Vernice Knutsen

Vernice Ann Bannister was born June 3, 1936, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Bertha C. (Sexton) Bannister and passed away Sunday, July 11, 2010, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Through the years Vernice lived in Marne, Audubon County, Lewis and Atlantic, Iowa. She attended Marne Schools obtaining her GED in Atlantic, Iowa.

On November 19, 1953, she was united in marriage to Mads H. Knutsen in Atlantic, Iowa.

She was employed at the Salvation Army and as a cook at Head start.

Mads and Vernice loved to dance and took lessons together. Vernice enjoyed spending time in her garden, frequenting garage sales, camping and taking vacations with her family. She volunteered at the Atlantic Care Center and the Griswold Care Center, helping the residents make her famous potato salad and cream puffs. She also enjoyed making crafts for the residents.

Surviving Vernice are her sons, Terry (Lisa) Knutsen of Exira, Iowa, Tim (Judy) Knutsen of Bancroft, Nebraska, and Todd (friend, Christi) Knutsen of Atlantic, Iowa, and her daughters, Bertha (Pat) Crawley and Bonnie Knutsen all of Atlantic, Iowa; her grandchildren, Darrick, Erick, Trever, Veronica, Tessa, Thomas, Tony, Steven, Sarah, Alan, Dustin, Christina, Tiffany, Tyler and Justin; 21 great-grandchildren; her brothers, Orville (Lois) Bannister of Grimes, Iowa, Richard (Yoko) Bannister of Tallahassee, Florida, and Raymond (Maxine) Knutsen of San Lorenzo, California; her brother-in-law, Paul Clifford of Atlantic, Iowa; brother-in-law, Carl (Darlene) L. Knutsen of Atlantic, IA; sister-in-law, Betty Esbeck of Atlantic, IA and sister-in-law, Lovie (Roy) Andersen of North Liberty, Iowa; numerous other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Bertha Bannister; her husband, Mads Knutsen; and her siblings, Dorothy Hughes and her husband Harry, Bob Bannister, Mervin Bannister, Juanita Clifford and Ruby Jean Knutsen; and her sister-in-law, Mary Ann Petty and her husband Merril.

Funeral services for Vernice Knutsen will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2010, with the visitation two hours prior to the service, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa.

Burial of cremated remains will take place in the Brighton Township Cemetery in Marne, Iowa, at a later date.