Carolyn Knutson

"Nippy" Carolyn Knutson, age 56, of Fosston, MN passed away on Monday (February 16th) at First Care Hospital in Fosston surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (February 21st) at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with Pastor Larry Dorman officiating. Interment will be in Cross Lake Cemetery, rural Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Friday (February 20th) at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston. Messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Nippy was born on April 29, 1952 in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Francis and Marion (Nyhus) Fjerstad. She had a lifelong nickname and was known to family and close friends as "Nippy". She attended Maple Hill and Pine Hill country schools and also attended Fosston High School.She married Alfred Knutson on September 7, 1975, and they raised three children together. They made homes in Thief River Falls, Fosston and rural Columbia Township. Carolyn had a wonderful sense of humor and always loved giving to others. She liked playing card games, Sudoko, Nintendo and other board games.She dedicated her life to her family and especially to her son, Kelly. In recent years, she was blessed with three grandchildren whom she was very proud of and had an incredibly close bond with granddaughter, Breana.She enjoyed making crafts, sewing, going to garage sales, yard work, volunteering at the Embassy in Fosston, and most importantly spending time with family. She loved 4-wheeler rides with her granddaughter, Breana. She also spent many hours at the Fosston Library researching her family history.She loved walks in the woods (Martin's) and down the country roads near her home. These were special times where all her family, including children, grandchildren, sisters, brother, nieces and nephews would spend a Sunday afternoon with nature and each other.She loved animals and held a close bond with her cats and dog. She would many times "nurse" an ailing animal back to health. She also had a special talent for fixing and repairing things.She touched the lives of many people. She never complained of any discomforts while she was ill. She was an amazing person and will deeply be missed by her family and friends."Nippy" Carolyn Knutson passed away on Monday, February 16, 2009 at First Care Hospital in Fosston surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer.She is survived by her loving husband, Alfred of Fosston; children, Carrie (Ryan) Walker of Bagley, MN, Kelly of East Grand Forks, MN, and Tracie (Brian) Branchaud of Clearbrook, MN; step-daughter, Karla Brandt of Great Falls, MT; grandchildren, Breana, Brandon, and Dalton; and step-granddaughter, Chastine Walker and step-grandson, Alex Brandt; siblings, Sue (Ronald) Sherette of East Grand Forks, MN, Sandy (David) Salvhus of McIntosh, MN, Terry Myhre of Walker, MN, Craig Fjerstad of Bemidji, MN, Cheryl Nelson of Nielsville, MN, Debbie (Marlin) Olson of Fosston, and Kristine (Marvin) Olson of Roseau, MN; step-father, Albert Anderson of Erskine, MN; mother-in-law, Minerva Nelson of Fosston; many nieces, nephews, cousins and family pets, Zena, Lily and Scrappy.She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Patricia and Diane; two brothers, Leroy and David; nephew, Brandon; and her precious dog, Rookie.