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Visitation:
Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 10 - 11 a.m. at Mason
City Assembly of God Church
Service:
Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the church.
Funeral home:
Hurley Funeral Home
Obituary
Betty June Knollenberg Born April
17th, 1929 Lived in Mason City IL and passed away
peacefully at age 96 on May 18th, 2025, at the Mason
City Area Nursing Home.
Born Betty June Schmidt from Beason IL, the daughter
of Oleta and Gustav Schmidt. She married Dwight O.
Knollenberg on August 29th, 1948, at United
Methodist Church in Lincoln, IL. They started their
life together in Mason City soon after they married
in 1948. They were married for 66 years until Dwight
passed in 2014.
Betty is survived by three boys: Ron (Linda)
Knollenberg of Mason City, IL, Joe (Linda)
Knollenberg of Springfield, IL and John Knollenberg
of Springfield, IL, as well as eight grandchildren,
and three great grandchildren.
Betty, who wore many hats, was foremost a homemaker
and happily reared the boys with much fanfare for
all birthdays and special occasions. It has been
noted that the cookie jar was never empty. She
played a large part in the Knollenberg Auction
business in Mason City as she was quite proficient
in all things antique. Because she was an antique
aficionado, her house was filled with many wonderful
and beautiful items and most came with stories of
her own family history. She always referred to her
antiques as her “pretties" and took great care to
ensure they had a good home.
Christmas was her favorite time of year and she
would spend weeks getting ready for the special
holiday by decorating the house, baking cookies,
pies and “roly-polys." She was known for her
Christmas cookie route (chauffeur Dwight) in Mason
City, delivering cookie trays filled with loads of
homemade cookies to dozens of homes for many years.
She loved to sing and one of her favorite movies was
“The Sound of Music”. As a young girl she would
attend small town gatherings and yodel while her dad
accompanied with an instrument.
After she “retired” from the auction business she
began her true calling, ministering to nursing homes
which lasted for over 30 years. She often shared a
story about how she helped a frightened nursing home
resident find peace by praying with him during one
of her many visits.
She had a great love for learning
God's word which led her on an educational trip to
the Holy Land where she was able to visit the places
she was studying in the Bible. She shared her photos
and what she learned on that trip in her ministry.
Scott, her oldest grandson, had the
privilege of having his beloved “Grandma Betty”
officiate his wedding. It was a truly special moment
as she became an ordained minister for this very
occasion. |
She frequently spoke of how great her
childhood was and how much she loved her parents and
grandparents.
Betty was known as an exceptionally caring and loving person
by everyone who had the privilege of being a part of her
life.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to all the
caregivers who attended to Betty at the Mason City Area
Nursing home, as well as Gentiva Hospice.
A funeral service will be held for Betty at Mason City
Assembly of God Church on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 11:00
AM, visitation will be held from 10:00 until the time of
service, Pastor James Sprinkel officiating. Burial to follow
the services at Mason City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Assembly of God
Church where she was an enthusiastic member of the church
for over 40yrs, playing the piano, organ, teaching Sunday
school, and singing in the choir.
Online condolences can be made to
www.hurleyfh.com.
Hurley Funeral Home in Mason City is in charge of the
arrangements. |
