Deanna Mae Bryant KNUTSON OBITUARY
KNUTSON Deanna Mae Bryant, was born on Nov. 13, 1941 in Cass Lake, MN. She moved to Bemidji with her family at a young age and graduated from Bemidji High School. Her mother named her after the actress Deanna Durbin. After graduating high school she moved to Minneapolis with her girlfriends.
She held numerous jobs in her life and always worked hard while raising two sons. In the 1970s and 1980s she was employed at National Car Rental when it was located Bloomington, where she rose to the position of supervisor. She also worked selling programs for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings (she was a big fan) in the 1980s and 1990s. Later in life, while semi-retired, she worked at Walgreens in Eagan where she met several good friends and knew longtime customers well.
In 1987 she purchased her townhome in Eagan and was proud to have paid off her mortgage early. After long days working she looked forward to returning to her home to relax. She fully retired at the age of 75 and liked that it meant "she didn't have to do anything." She valued independence and knowledge. She read newspapers every day, a habit she picked up from her dad.
Deanna loved conversation and laughter with friends and family and even strangers. She was an avid reader — focusing on biographies and autobiographies. And, she enjoyed art – particularly the Impressionist painters. To her last days Deanna played Elvis Presley's music — an enthusiasm from her teenage years, as was her abiding taste for Coca-Cola. She had a sweet-tooth which matched her sweet nature and loved sharing meals with family.
She died peacefully at her son's house in Inver Grove Heights on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
She is survived by sons David Knutson (Sally Walsh Knutson) and Brian Knutson (Angela Knutson) as well as sister Elaine (Ron) Banasik and brother Gerald (Jacqueline) Bryant. She was preceded in death by her parents Samuel Clay Bryant and Leona Elizabeth Carpenter Bryant, sister Bernadell Olson, and brother Stanley Bryant.
No service is planned. Her remains will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights.
