Elizabeth Knox, 91, of Park Rapids, MN, and formerly of Cable Lake, near Mentor, MN, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2023, at her residence in Crystal Brook Senior Living with her family at her side.
Mary Elizabeth (Langenberg) Knox was born to Henry W. Langenberg and Marguerite A. (McCauley) Langenberg on October 28, 1931, in Crookston, MN. Liz attended the Cathedral grade school and high school in Crookston, MN. After her graduation, the family moved to Winona, MN where she attended the College of St. Teresa. During this time, Liz married William D. (Bill) Knox of Fisher, MN on February 11, 1952 in St. Joseph Pro Cathedral in Winona, MN. Liz and Bill moved many times during their marriage following Bill’s military service and flying career. They returned home to the Red River Valley in 1965 where Bill became the Administrator of the Crookston airport and Liz was the bookkeeper for both the airport and Bill’s aerial spraying business. Later they built their farmstead near Fisher, MN on land her father Henry had originally purchased. Through the years, Liz continued bookkeeping for the farm and spraying business. She was a lifetime member of the Catholic Daughters in Crookston and a member of Homemakers in Fisher, MN.
Liz had a passion and talent for music which she began sharing by playing the organ for church services while still in grade school. For many years she was the organist for the adult choir at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston, MN, followed by St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Gentilly, MN, and finally St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fisher, MN. She also was the accompanist for the Citrus Park Choir in Bonita Springs, FL where she and Bill wintered for over 20 years.
Liz loved to play bridge and was well on her way to becoming a life master. She was a fierce competitor on the tennis court. She and Bill had an annual grudge match every year against their granddaughters that always drew a large crowd of their tennis friends and family to cheer them on. Liz loved the water; be it salty or fresh. She and Bill spent many winters on their sailboat exploring the Bahamas, the Tortugas and the ocean and gulf around Florida. She also loved to swim and waterski. She often reminded us that she was the first in the family to perfect the “Cypress Garden Toe Trick”. According to Liz, she generally “out fished” (the first, the biggest and the most) Bill on their weekend jaunts to the cabin at the NW Angle.
Liz is survived by sons, William A. (Rebecca Stadem), Park Rapids, MN; James (Kim), Park Rapids, MN; daughters; Margaret (Stanley) Leach, Mission, TX; and Jane (Timothy) Harris, O’Fallon, MO; 9 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Margaret (Ross) McKintosh of Hudson, WI and Marie Louise Smith of Morrisville, NY; sister-in-law, Claudia Knox of Fisher, MN; along with many nieces, nephews, bridge buddies and dear friends.
Liz was preceded in death by her parents; Bill, her husband of 66 years; son, Robert; brother, William (Mari Lynn) Langenberg; sister, Johanna (William) Heer; brother-in-law, James A; Knox; and sisters-in-law, Pat (Dewey) Bushaw and Jane (Richard) Stainbrook.
Visitation will take place from 5-7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 6, 2023 at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, Crookston, with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service and time of sharing. The prayer service will be live streamed by going to Liz’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com to view.
The Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Liz Knox will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 7, 2023, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston, MN, with Msgr. David Baumgartner, presiding. Visitation with the family will be for one hour prior to the service.
The funeral will be livestreamed by going to either www.crookstoncathedral.com or Liz’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com shortly before the scheduled start. Burial will take place in the Calvary Cemetery, Crookston.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials in Liz’s name be made to Hospice of the Red River Valley or the Cathedral School in Crookston, MN.
