Rebecca “Becky” Amsden
Rebecca “Becky” Amsden, age 67, of Olivia, died on Tuesday, June 23, at the St. Cloud Hospital. There will be a visitation Thursday, July 2 from 5-7 p.m. at Cross of Calvary Lutheran Church in Olivia, concluding with a prayer service. We ask that you please wear a mask. A private family burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Arrangements are with Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Olivia, MN.
Rebecca Susan (Knoll) Amsden was born the second child to Merlyn and Lucille Knoll on May 26, 1953. She was a beautiful, vivacious and engaging girl, graduating from Olivia High School in 1971. Becky received her English teaching degree from St. Cloud State University in 1975 and took her first teaching job in Comfrey, MN where she met her husband, Gary. They married and moved to Mentor, MN, where they started their family and lived for 10 years.
In 1986, Becky accepted a teaching position and purchased the home she grew up in from her retiring parents in her hometown, Olivia. She would retire from the same school where she graduated, one of the Warrior’s biggest fans. In addition to the more than 1000 children Becky called her own as a gifted teacher, there were her own sons, Chad, Jeremy, Ben, and Andy. She took great pride and joy in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. Even when she was down on her luck, Becky had encouragement and would do a kindness for anyone. She loved the sun and the lake, basking in her baby oil every chance she got. Becky was without doubt a kind and caring person to all which was evident as she was the caregiver to her parents in later years.
Dylan Thomas poem, “Do not go gentle into that good night” was one Becky taught in her heyday as an English teacher. Thomas’ own story in many ways mirrored Becky’s – a love for poetry and writing, kindness and compassion for others, and sadly, a long struggle with alcoholism. There were few in her life that it did not impact. With that battle there were many times she fought back and thrived, raging against the dying of the light, but in the end “though wise men at their end know dark is right” she stepped into the dark and beyond it into the true light of God’s loving arms, celebrating with loved ones gone before her. Over the last three and half years Becky had been staying sober and winning her struggle with alcoholism.
Becky is survived by her four sons: Chad (and Gena) Amsden of Olivia, Jeremy (and Sarah) Amsden of Dawson, Ben (and Polly) Amsden of Hector, and Andy of Olivia; her grandchildren: Mackenzie, Taylor, Tyler, Tanner, Ayden, Izabelle, Alison, Haley, Alanna, Janessa, and Karissa; her great-grandchild Ronan; her brothers: Mark (and Wendy) Knoll, David (and Lisa) Knoll, and Dan Knoll (and special friend Julie), and her sister Kristin (and Eric) Douglas. Becky is preceded in death by her parents, Merlyn and Lucille Knoll, sisters, Barbara and Catherine, and brother, James.
Blessed Be Her Memory
