Janelle Gaye Knutson, 83, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away at her home on May 21,2019.

She was born to the late Chester and Muriel Golden on November 10,1935 in Hettinger ND. Janelle went to school in Hettinger, ND.

She married the late Gerald (Jerry) Knutson on September 5, 1952. They made their home in Lemmon, SD. Janelle and Jerry moved to Mesa, AZ for the winters around 1985 after he retired.

Janelle is survived by daughter Linda (Patrick) Marsella, Linwood NJ; sons Jon Knutson, Mesa AZ, Rolly (Kathy) Knutson of Mesa, AZ, Boyd and special friend Jane Poole, of Rochester, IN; 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Dona VanderWal of Hettinger and brother Larry Golden of San Francisco, CA.

She was preceded in death by her late husband Jerry in 1995.

Janelle was the neighborhood "Mom." Her children recalled how they were always bringing kids home to play and she always enjoyed all of them. Her son Rolly remembered when he even brought people up from Texas and she welcomed them like they were family. She was a wonderful mother, wife, and a great cook, according to all who ate at her table.