Jeanne Mithaugen-Knight

Memorial services for Jeanne Mithaugen-Knight of Starbuck, Minnesota will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Rev. Kathy Terpstra will be officiating.  Burial will be at a later date at South Lake Johanna Cemetery, rural Brooten.

Jeanne Carol Tietz, was born on December 11, 1940 to Morris Henry and Nina Katherine (Houck) Tietz in Mason City, Iowa.  She was raised in Lyman, Iowa where she was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s United Church of Christ.  Jeanne attended school in Griswold where she graduated with the Griswold High School, class of 1958.  During her schooling and for one year after, she waitressed at a café owned by her mother. While she was working, Jeanne met Harold Melvin Mithaugen, a lineman working for a telephone company.  They were married on October 24, 1959.  Following their marriage, they moved to Spicer, Minnesota.  To this union, four children were born.  In 1962, they bought and moved to Harold’s childhood farm in rural Brooten, Harold died on July 1, 1986, and Jeanne moved into town in 1987.  While at a dance, Jeanne met Ernest Knight; the couple was married on October 2, 1998.  They lived in Sedan and Terrace before purchasing their farm four miles NE of Starbuck where she lived until her death.  In her earlier years, Jeanne helped on the farm.  She canned, baked and sewed in caring for her family.   When her youngest turned six, she began working outside the home at Fingerhut in Benson.  Jeanne had many talents, showcasing them in careers such as: machinist, welder, purchasing agent, and chef.  Jeanne retired in 2002, but continued to work part-time as a consultant.

Jeanne was an avid reader; she loved playing scrabble and was a competitive cribbage and card player.  She enjoyed mowing; she and Ernie took a lot of pride in their beautiful yard.  Jeanne was a big sports fan and was always eager to talk about it as it came easily to her.  Most importantly, Jeanne cherished the time she was able to spend with her family, especially being the doting Grandma that she was.

Jeanne died peacefully on Thursday, February 08, 2018 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  She lived to the age of 77 years.

Jeanne is survived by her her husband, Ernest “Ernie” Knight of Starbuck; children: Heidi (Henry) Strater of Blaine, Judy (Donavon) DeRoo of Anoka, Chip Mithaugen of Brooten, and Chad (Shellie) Mithaugen of New London;  grandchildren: Courtney Mithaugen, Zackary (Sara) Mithaugen, Creighton Mithaugen, Channing Mithaugen, Matt Mithaugen, Madison Mithaugen, Hilary (Nick) Hoffman, Henry (Jessica) Strater, Casey (MacKenzie) DeRoo, Jennifer (Collin) Kramer, and Jordan Knight;  great-grandchildren: Bryson Huntly, Olivia Hoffman, Rayne Mithaugen, Killian Hoffman, James DeRoo, Abigail Mithaugen, Evelyn Strater, and Leo DeRoo; foster great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Casie, Angelique and Hannah; her siblings: Shirley (Darwyn) Mueller of Fort Meyers, FL and Karen (Mike) Laverty of Lewis, IA; and many nieces and nephews. Jeanne is preceded in death by her parents and first husband, Harold Mithaugen; and one brother, Gerry Tietz.

Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of arrangements for Jeanne.