Washington County native Verna M. Kniep, 95, died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005, at the Birchwood Manor in North Bend. Funeral services were Monday, Jan. 24, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in North Bend. Interment was at the German Cemetery, located north of Bennington.

Verna M. Kniep was born Sept. 12, 1909, on the family farm south of Kennard to Herman and Hannah (Nelson) Kuhr. She was a graduate of Blair High School.

On March 12, 1930, she married Henry A. Kniep. After her marriage, the couple lived and farmed near Kennard until 1978, when they moved to Bennington. Mrs. Kniep lived in Blair from 1990 until August 1995, when she moved to North Bend.

She was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church at North Bend, and was a former member of St. John Lutheran Church at Bennington, where she was the church organist for 25 years, and former member of the Keenager’s Lutheran at St. John’s. She taught music in rural Washington County schools. She also had been a member of an extension club.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas H. and Fayne Kniep of Poplar Grove, Ill., daughter and son-in-law, Carol J. and Clayton Snover of North Bend; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and June Kuhr of Blair; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Harvey and Ralph; a sister, Marjorie Svendgaard; and a grandson, Kirk Kniep.

Memorials are suggested to St. Peter Lutheran Church in North Bend, the North Bend Senior Center, and St. John Lutheran Church at Bennington.

Moser Memorial Chapel in North Bend was in charge of arrangements.