Eleanor A. Knutson, 93, of Mankato, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea.

Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato with the Rev. Jay Dahlvang officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Lutheran Cemetery in Rapidan. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Memorials may be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Eleanor was born Feb. 24, 1918, to Ole and Anna (Hall) Thorson in rural Rapidan. She graduated from Rapidan High School and was also a graduate from the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis with an registered nurse degree in 1939. Eleanor was united in marriage to John Knutson on Aug. 25, 1942, in Rapidan. She was employed as a registered nurse at Immanuel Hospital in Mankato and later worked for 16 years as a registered nurse for Minnesota State University Health Services before retiring in 1980.

Eleanor was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Dorcus Society and the church circle. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Eleanor’s hobbies included quilting, knitting, walking, and observing birds and wildlife.

Eleanor is survived by three children: Marlys (Glenn) Joly of New Hope, Dennis (Janice) Knutson of Fairbanks, Ala., and Kathy (Tom) Sheehan of Emmons; five grandchildren: Guy (Brenda) Joly, Reed and friend (Kristen Larsen) Joly, Travis Knutson, Eric Sheehan, Kara (Jeremy) Delger; seven great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Kathryn Thorson of Mankato; many nieces and nephews.

Eleanor preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson, John Sheehan; and brother, Raymond Thorson.