Ann Knudson

Thursday, December 23, 2010
Ann Knudson

On Dec. 19, 2010, Ann Knudson passed away at home, surrounded by her loved ones.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 27, at the

Mountain Home Church of the Nazarene. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Ann was born in Boise on March 11, 1943, the youngest daughter of Bertha and Ora Engelmann.

She spent her whole life going back and forth between homes at Prairie and Mountain Home, but always looked forward to getting back to Prairie.

When Ann was born, her older sisters, June and Dorothy, were grown and she liked to joke that she was raised by three mothers. Ann was just a few years older than her nephews, Leland Powell and Joe Acarregui, and the three were

raised together, playing and fishing in Smith Creek.

Ann started first grade at the Prairie School, but later attended classes in Mountain Home where she graduated from high school in 1960.

Greg Knudson started visiting his Aunt Helen and Uncle L.G. Davison at Prairie, and the two noticed each other at one of the many Prairie dances.

They were married in Mountain Home on April 19, 1965.

In 1966, the couple had a daughter, Sherri, and in 1967, son Jeff was born.

They bought a ranch 5 miles outside of Mountain Home in 1969.

She loved raising her family and being a ranch wife, putting up with bum calves in the living room and cooking for the crowds who showed up to help at brandings.

The family enjoyed many camping trips from Bennett Mountain to the Trinities and everywhere in between.

She started working at Dr. Gochnour and Dr. Gilbert's orthodontist office in Mountain Home as a part-time receptionist. She worked there a few days each week for more than 30 years.

As much as she enjoyed that work, she cherished her next assignment even more ­ looking after her grandchildren. Ann was overjoyed at the birth of Arisha Karren in 1996, Carly Knudson in 1997, Kade Karren in 1998, and Ty Knudson in 1999. She introduced them to her favorite swimming hole at Smith Creek, and loved watching them play together at Prairie and at home in Mountain Home.

Her interests included gardening, making crafts to sell at the Christmas bazaar, and she rarely passed up a garage sale.

Ann had a deep and wide social network ‹ marathon pinochle playing with her sisters and mom, road trips with girlfriends, frequent phone calls just to say hello. Some of her proudest celebrations were well-attended parties at Prairie for her and Greg's 25th and 40th wedding anniversaries. Life was good.

Ann was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in July 2001. She endured countless medical procedures and illnesses with grace and courage, never complaining, always cheerful and positive.

She is survived by her husband, Greg, daughter Sherri and son-in-law Rob Karren, son Jeff and his wife, Gina Knudson, grandchildren Arisha and Kade Karren and Carly and Ty Knudson, her sister, Dorothy Powell, sisters-in-law

Paula Ferbrache and Barbara Clark, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Joe, who died before she was born, and her sister, June Acarregui.

Memorials may be sent to the Prairie Quick Response Unit c/o Mary Cook, 524 Smith Creek Rd, Prairie, ID 83647.