Vera M. Knudson, 90, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at the Life Care Center of Seneca.

She was born November 14, 1925, on a farm 3 ½ miles east of Seneca, the daughter of Joseph H. and Clara Vondemkamp Phillips. Vera attended a rural school before she entered Sts. Peter & Paul School where she graduated from High School with the Class of 1943.

Following graduation she worked in Grand Island, Nebraska, for her aunt, Anna Mulchay, caring for her newborn child. She also worked at the Cornhusker Cafe as a waitress. Grand Island is where she met her future husband. On July 23, 1946, she married Iver A. “Bill” Knudson at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They lived in the Seneca area where she worked at the Gilford Hotel. In 1968, they moved to Washington, Kansas, where they owned and operated a Gambles Store until 1976. Upon their return to Seneca they moved to a home at Lake Nemaha until the spring of 1998, when they moved into the city limits of Seneca. Iver preceded her in death on June 5, 2001.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the St. Ann’s Altar Society; she also volunteered at the Sts. Peter & Paul Mission.

Vera enjoyed sewing clothes for her children, gardening, canning, and baking her cinnamon rolls.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Clara Phillips; her sister, Zita Bergman; and four brothers, Leonard, Art, Fr. Walter and Regis.

Survivors include four sons, Gary (Nancy) of Mayetta, Kansas, Bob of Derby, Kansas, Tom (Sue) of Augusta, Kansas and Gene of Seneca; two daughters, Sandy (Alan) Feldkamp of Monument, Colorado and Diane (Jonathan) Morton of Beverly, Kansas; a brother, Lyle Phillips of Overland Park; and a sister, Elda Mae Haverkamp of Wetmore; 11 grandchildren; and great grandchildren.

A rosary will be prayed 7 PM on Thursday evening, January 28th at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian burial will be offered on Friday at 11AM at Sts. Peter Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. The burial will be in St. Bede ‘ s Cemetery in Kelly.

Memorials may be given to St. Bede’s Cemetery, sent in care of the family.