Margie A. Knutson, 89, of Sparta died Friday, July 18, 2008 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. She was born on June 1, 1919 in Middleridge, Wisconsin to Joseph and Margaret (Arentz) Strittmatter. She grew up in Middleridge and moved to La Crosse when she was 18 years old. Margie worked as a housekeeper and cook at the Blaschke Funeral Home. While in La Crosse she met George Knutson. They were married on July 17, 1940.

     After marriage they lived in Irish Coulee. They farmed on several farms until they moved to Rockland. They lived in Rockland for 6 years and then moved to Sparta in 1968. Margie worked as a nurses aid at Mulder Healthcare, West Salem and then at Rolling Hills Nursing Home, Sparta until she retired in 1981.

     She is survived by her children, Jeanette (William) Fisher of Sparta, Bonnie (Larry) Dempsey of Sparta, Patricia (Roger Suhr) Ziegler of Sparta; six grandchildren, Kim (Paul) Knoll of Sparta, Richard (Jann) Fisher of St. Charles, MN, Jeff (Anita) Fisher of Sparta, Dawn (Paul Mahlum) Ziegler of Holmen, WI, Michael (Loretta) Ziegler II of La Crosse, Mark Ziegler of Shreveport, LA; five great grandchildren, Josh, Brady, Calle, Andrew, and Ava.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George on April 11, 1972; a son, Ronald on June 29, 1999; three brothers, Joseph, Lawrence, and Everette.

     Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sparta with Reverend Matthew E. Toso officiating. Burial will be in the Burns Cemetery, rural Bangor.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta on Tuesday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.