Renee Marie Knutson, 71, of Blooming Prairie, died Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at Whispering Oak Place in Ellendale.

She was born May 1, 1952, in New Ulm, Minnesota the daughter of Leo and Bernice (Berger) Klinkner. Her family moved to Owatonna in 1953, where she grew up and attended school. She graduated from Marian High School in Owatonna in 1970. She continued her education at Rasmussen Business College and worked at Federated Insurance in Owatonna, First National Bank in Blooming Prairie and Fisherman's Stop in Clarks Grove.

On November 3, 1973, she married Larry Knutson. The couple lived for a short time in Blooming Prairie before moving to a home southwest of town where they raised their two daughters.

Renee returned to college in 1995 at Riverland in Austin and graduated with a nursing degree in 1999. While attending nursing school she worked at Cedarview Care Center as a certified nursing assistant. She then worked at the Owatonna Hospital as a registered nurse until her retirement in 2016.

In her free time, Renee enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, traveling, reading and was an avid walker. She loved her large family and enjoyed spending time with all of them.

She is survived by her husband, Larry Knutson of Blooming Prairie; daughters, Dawn (Aaron) Reichl of Green River, WY and Jackie (Barry) Homuth of Owatonna; grandsons, Braden Reichl, Logan Reichl, Chris Homuth and Dylan Homuth; siblings, Becky Volk of Mankato, Paul (Andrea) Klinkner of Owatonna, Barb Blomberg of Rochester, John (Christine) Klinkner of Danbury, WI and Lynn Arnold of West Des Moines, IA along with nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Bernice and an infant sister, Mary.

Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM and at church one hour prior to Mass. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father James Starasinich officiating. Private interment will be at a later date.

Memorials are preferred to Ecumen Hospice or St. Mary's School in Owatonna.