Velma Ann Marie Amundson, 86, formerly of the Benson area
Velma Ann Marie Amundson, 86, formerly of the Benson area, died Sunday, June 28, 2015, at the Talahi Care Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 7, at 11 a.m., at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. Visitation will be held Monday, July 6 from 4-7 p.m., with a parish prayer service at 6 p.m., and for one hour prior to service at the church Tuesday.
Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson, Minnesota. www.zniewskifuneralhome.com
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Velma “Bunna” Ann Marie Amundson was born on January 6, 1929 on the family farm in Franklin Township, Wright County, Minnesota near Delano, the 6th of 14 children of William Albert and Mary Christine (Czech) Motzko. She grew up in Watertown, Minnesota, where she started working at the River Café when she was 12 years old. In 1945, the family moved to Benson and her father bought the Viking Café in August and the Benson Diner in December. She married Willie Sanford Amundson on September 3, 1946, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson in a double wedding with her sister Eleanore and Luther Lee This union was blessed with over 30 years of marriage and 6 children.
Velma owned and operated Velma’s Café in Kerkhoven and later the Benson Diner. She enjoyed cooking, fishing, fixing puzzles, gardening, pulling weeds, dancing, playing cards, and helping out at her church. Velma loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the catholic women’s group at St. Francis. She was called from this life on Sunday, June 28th, at the Talahi Care Center in St. Cloud. She attained the age of 86 years, 6 months and 28 days.
Velma is survived by her sons: Darcy (Linda) Amundson of Kerkhoven, Sanford Amundson of Maple Grove, Ronald Amundson of Sartell, and Joseph Amundson of Sartell; daughter, Wanda (Kirk) Ward of Starbuck; son-in-law, Tom McGee; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; siblings: Viola Corneliusen of Benson, Caroline Gulbranson of Grand Rapids, Dennis (Joanne) Motzko of Bursville, Edward (Betty) Motzko of Wellington, Colorado, and Jerome Motzko of Benson; sister-in-law, Anne Marie Motzko; brother-in-law, Leon Lucas; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie in 1976; her parents William “Bill” and Mary “Mamie”; a daughter, Judy; and siblings: Eleanore (Luther) Lee, Lillian (Vernon “Cappy”) Gulbranson, Leonard (Juliana), Wilfred (Nora), Carmin, Richard, Darlene (Richard) Grant, and Alice Lucas. Blessed be her memory.
