Gertrude Mae Knutson, age 90, passed away on December 30, 2015 at Golden Age Manor in Amery, WI. With her family by her side, she peacefully departed, no longer able to battle the complications of late-stage dementia. Gertie was born on September 18, 1925, to Melvin and Stella (Moss) Gustafson in Monticello, MN. She had many fond childhood memories of growing up with an older sister, Gloria and younger brother, Edward. Being raised on a farm she was well acquainted with hard work. She attended schools in Monticello and Foley, and graduated from high school at St. Cloud Tech. In her late teen years, she moved to the Twin Cities area and found employment with Montgomery Ward and the U.S. Postal Service. During this time some Gustafson cousins opened their home to her and would also invite her along to visit family in Wisconsin. It was on one of these trips, a Sunday morning in church, Gertie met a young farmer, Leland Knutson. After a short courtship they were married on August 31, 1946, at Immanuel Lutheran in rural Clayton, the church where they first met. Together they shared the joys and sorrows of life for over 52 years, until Leland passed away in 1998. In their early years of marriage a new home was built and they worked side-by-side on their own dairy farm. For a short time in the early 1960's she worked at Fabri-Tek in Amery. When many of her friends were thinking of retirement she returned to milking cows every morning. Gertie cheerfully volunteered her services until her health declined at the age of 80. Leland and Gertie were blessed with a family of three boys. She was a dedicated and loving mother who gave the best she could to her sons. After her children were grown she enjoyed biking, bowling, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and shopping with her friends. Gertie loved traveling across the United States and to Sweden with Leland to visit his mother's relatives. Gertie's family remembers how she enjoyed gardening and was passionate about keeping her lawn neat and trimmed. She decorated beautiful cakes and was a wiz with some yarn and a few needles and hooks. Her grandchildren remember the many hours she spent playing Yahtzee, Trouble and Tri-Ominoes with them. At Christmastime she made the best lefse, and her specialty was Swedish pancakes. What almost everyone will remember about Gertie is her ability to make music on a piano or organ. She played by ear, never learning to read the notes. It was a gift from God that she shared until the last months of her life when her hands would no longer work for her. As dementia began to affect her daily living, she moved to Golden Age Manor at the age of 84. For over 5 years she played her music for the residents and staff. Gertie also loved to sing and often did in the church choir. She was a baptized and confirmed member of the Lutheran faith and served wherever she could. In her last hours on Earth she requested listening to music. Her family is confident she is now enjoying the songs of Heaven, with her Savior. Immediate family members gone on before her include her parents, sister, husband and a grandson. Those left with precious memories are her sons, Craige, Rod and Jan, and daughters-in-law, Kathy, Janelle and Mary. Also missing her are eight grandchildren, Cara (Jason), Tricia, Stephanie (Mike), Derek (Lori), Guy (Denise), Karl (Sarah), Kent (Angela) and Kraig and 15 great-grandchildren, Brett, Brandon, Kayla, Ali (Arthur) Coen, Kelly, Shelby, Earl, Soren, Austin Greenwold, Alex Greenwood, Ashten Greenwood, Peter and Andrew and Lena and Luke. She also leaves to mourn her brother, Edward (Jenny) Gustafson and family, her sister Gloria's family, her sister-in-law Lucille James and family, and brother-in-law LeRoy (Marilyn) Knutson and family. She leaves behind many other dear relatives, neighbors and friends at Golden Age Manor. Gertie's family would like to thank GAM for the compassionate care she received for nearly six years. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery, WI. There will be a time of visitation with the family on Friday, January 8, 2016 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home, as well as one hour before the service on Saturday. A lunch will be served at the Amery Area Community Center after the service. Interment will be at the Marsh Lake Cemetery at a later date. To sign an online guest book and view a video tribute visit www.williamsonwhite.com . Arrangements were made with the Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Amery.