Mildred Naomia Knuths

Mildred Naomia Knuths
March 8, 1930 - January 12, 2018
Mildred Nickel was born in Gettysburg, SD to August A. Nickel & Naomia Alice Erickson Nickel. The family moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota when she was a few years old, where her father built their home and started a contracting business. Her parents divorced in 1937. She and her mother, brother, and step-father, Clifford Savage, moved to Albany, Oregon in 1941. She attended schools in Albany and Shedd - graduating, as valedictorian, from Shedd High School. During high school she worked weekends and summers at Albany’s first Drive-In: Prinses’ Drive-In. She later worked at the Bank of Shedd. She was named Strawberry Fair Princess in 1948. She married Gary Lee Knuths on June 11, 1949 and they lived and farmed in the Halsey-Brownsville area for many years. They later bought the Corvallis Livestock Market/Auction, where she did the bookkeeping. Gary also pastored the East Fairview Mennonite Church where Mildred was very active. Gary passed away in 1981. Mildred continued to work as a bookkeeper-Office Manager for a few businesses, ending her working years at Brothers Concrete Cutting, Inc. when she retired in 1996. She was a regular attender at Plainview Mennonite Church until her health started to deteriorate. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren. Her family was very important to her and she loved them dearly. She especially enjoyed organizing family get-togethers - the big Christmas celebrations were particularly dear. She was a big fan of her children’s’ grandchildren ‘s and great-grand children’s sporting events. She loved music and from an early age singing was an important part of her life. She also enjoyed sewing, embroidering, counted cross-stitch, reading, scrapbooking, coloring, and cooking.
Preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gary, and grandson, Charlie Brown; she is survived by her children: Cindy Brown, Jennifer Knuths, Carolee Harding & Tim Knuths (and their spouses); her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A private, family graveside service was held.
AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements