Clara Satre, 1929-2019

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Memorial services for Clara N. Satre will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea. The Rev. Erica Cunningham will officiate. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at a later date.

Clara Satre

Clara passed away Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, at Pathstone Living Community in Mankato. She was 89. Clara Nadine (Nesje) was born Nov. 5, 1929, in rural Kiester to Nels and Christina (Simonson) Nesje. She was the youngest of eight children. She graduated from Kiester High School in 1948.

On Dec. 3, 1949, Clara was united in marriage to Roy Knudtson. The couple was blessed with four children. Roy passed away in 1969. Clara married Iray Satre on June 14, 1974. Iray passed away in 2003.

Clara worked at Naeve Hospital in the materials management department. She retired from the hospital in 2002. She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. There, she was involved in Margaret Haupt Circle and would often visit shut-ins on behalf of the church.

Clara also enjoyed being a part of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Legion auxiliaries. When she wasn’t volunteering or working, Clara liked reading, playing cards with her family, gardening, bowling, morning coffee time and making lefse — a family favorite. Clara was loving, caring and kind. She enjoyed helping others, always gave hugs and loved her family unconditionally.

Clara is survived by her three children, Nadine (Paul) Haukoos of St. Peter, Evonne (Fred) Baluski of Ruso, North Dakota, and Rory Knudtson of Swea City, Iowa; stepchildren Linda Engebretson of Bricelyn, David (Colleen) Satre of Bricelyn and Mona Satre of Albert Lea; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Margaret Nesje and Delores “Honey” Nesje; as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.

She is preceded in death by both parents; husbands Roy Knudtson and Iray Satre; daughter, Nancy Bixby; son-in-law, David Bixby; granddaughter, Anna Bixby; stepson, Kenny Satre; brothers Nordahl, Benny, James, Nels, Elvin and Selmer Nesje; and sister, Martha Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice in Mankato.