Peggy Knudson passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003, at Thorne Crest in Albert Lea. She was 92 years old.

She was born on March 28, 1911, and was a lifetime resident of Albert Lea. She was the daughter of Robert and Marie (Torgerson) Anderson.

Peggy was a well-known and highly regarded musician throughout her life. She was a vocalist, pianist, and organist for a variety of community functions and organizations. Peggy represented and influenced the musical tastes of the community over several generations and was the prime piano and organ musician in the community.

She was a student of music at Luther Academy in 1922-1923, and later studied piano under Sadie Bliss Cox. She was a graduate of the ALHS Class of 1930.

Peggy was a member of the Albert Lea American Legion Auxiliary Drum Corps, formed in 1929. During the summers of 1930 and 1931, she worked at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.

She was a member of the First Norwegian Church, then the Norwegian Synod, and was present the day the ground was broken for the First Lutheran Church. She was confirmed on May 23, 1926. Peggy was a lifelong member of Circle #20, assisted in the Altar Guild, Senior Friends, and played the piano for church events.

Peggy married Clarence G. Knudson on May 29, 1937, and the Rev. S. T. Sorenson of the First Lutheran Church performed the ceremony.

After her husband died in 1950, she taught organ and piano at Karlberg Music, and then at Stephenson Music. She appeared weekly on the television program “Musical Moments” broadcast from Austin’s KAUS in the 1950’s, becoming one of the first regular television performers in Southern Minnesota.

For 28 years, she taught piano and organ lessons in her home. For 31 years, she was the organist and at intervals was the choir director for the First Methodist Church of Albert Lea.

Peggy was the accompanist for Miss Albert Lea Pageants from 1965 to 1974, and provided keyboard music for the first and subsequent musical productions at the Albert Lea Community Theatre. As a performing artist, she provided music for countless area weddings, funerals, banquets, style shows, fundraisers, dinners, and outdoor events. She played in several dance bands at locations throughout southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

Peggy accompanied the Leo Carey Post 56 of the American Legion vocal group, the Careyaires, she was an honorary Lion, and was the 1997 Elks Citizen of the Year. She was a volunteer musician for the Freeborn County Historical Society, Senior Towers, St. John’s Lutheran Home, Good Samaritan Center, and Thorne Crest North and South.

She is survived by three children and their spouses: Janet and Robert Brackey of St. Paul, David and Barbara (Bell) Knudson of Comstock, Wis., and Diane and Stephen Gulbrandson of Tucson Ariz.; two grandchildren: Travis L. Brackey, and Christian R. and Maureen (Sullivan) Brackey; and four great-grandchildren: Killian Brackey, Bennett Brackey, and twin boys Gavin and Murphy Brackey.

Her husband; her parents; her sister, Eulalia; and her brother, Robert B. Anderson, preceded Peggy in death.

The family would like to thank the Thorne Crest staff for taking care of Peggy the last four years, and Crossroads Community Hospice for their care the last few weeks.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19. The Rev. Daniel Baker will conduct the service at First Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception in the Parlor after the funeral.