Shirley Knodel

Shirley Knodel, 77, of Scotland, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at the Scotland Good Samaritan Center. Shirley’s funeral will be 10:00 am, Monday, June 1 at Martinus Lutheran Church in rural Utica with Rev. Dean Schroeder and Rev. Ken Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at the Martinus Cemetery in rural Utica. Online condolences may be sent at www.okfhc.com. Livestreaming of Shirley’s funeral can be viewed at https://server.attend.live/static/event/OYJOR. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Shirley Vernet Knodel was the daughter of Roland and Grace (Hofer) Knodel. She was born on her family’s farm one mile south of Olivet, SD where she was raised with her 8 siblings. Shirley was baptized on December 14, 1948, and confirmed her faith in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod on June 17, 1962.

Shirley graduated from Menno High School, then joined the workforce. She held various jobs during her life including working at the Human Services Center and as a secretary.

Shirley enjoyed reading and was an avid spectator of sports. She enjoyed watching football and baseball on TV and attending her grandchildren’s sporting activities. She was a fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins. She loved heckling and arguing with her son and grandsons about the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. In her later years she logged in online to watch the games her grandchildren were coaching.

Shirley took great pride in her family, especially her grandkids and great grandkids. She would spoil her “perfect little angels,” but also made sure they behaved and used their manners. She took lots of photos throughout the years and loved displaying family pictures in her room, especially pictures of her great grandkids.

The only thing more important to Shirley than her family was her deep love for Jesus Christ. She read and studied her Bible very often and when her sight failed her, she listened to a recording on tape. As a request for her funeral, Shirley wrote the following: “As a believer in Christ, I am in heaven. Let all who come to my funeral praise Christ as our Lord and Savior. I will see you in heaven, a free gift from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Thankful for having shared in Shirley’s life are her son Paul (Loretta) Knodel, her grandchildren, Joshua (Samantha) Knodel, Jacob Knodel, Faith (Cody) VandenHoek, and her great grandchildren, Huntlee, Henry, and Hailee VandenHoek, her siblings Mary Gross and Lyle Knodel, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Shirley was proceeded in death by her parents, brothers and their spouses; Dennis Knodel, LeRoy Knodel, Kenneth (Judy) Knodel, John (Connie) Knodel, sisters and their spouses; Sylvia (Leonard) Werkmeister, and Jeanette (Gary) Lee; brother-in-law, Albert Gross, nephew Kyle Gross, niece, Sherie Arens, and great grandchildren Nevaeh, Josiah, and Haven Vanden Hoek.