Maris Knutson Breaw, 91, formerly of Volga, South Dakota, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2020, at the Bethany Home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  A funeral service is planned for Friday, June 26, 2020, beginning at 11:00 A.M. at the Central Church in Sioux Falls, located at 3102 Ralph Rogers Road.  A time of visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 until 10:45 A.M. at the church.  A private family burial will immediately follow the service at First Lutheran Cemetery in Volga.  Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Maris Knutson Breaw, daughter of Frank and Grace (Short) Pike, was born on November 28, 1928, in Aurora, South Dakota, where she attended elementary and high school.  She and her twin brother, Loris, joined older brothers Gail and Chan, and half brother Delbert Pike.  Maris was well protected by these big brothers in her life.  Maris worked at Woolworths in Brookings until she married.  Maris met the love of her life, Arne B. Knutson at a dance at Lake Campbell.  It was a quick romance and they married on January 9, 1948.  They spent their life together on the farm and were blessed with four children: Larry, Kathy, Gary, and Kayleen.

After children were raised, Maris worked as a secretary in the chemistry department at SDSU.  After Arne's unexpected heart attack and death in 1974, she worked as a teller at First National Bank in Volga, and later managed Parkview Home in Volga.

Maris married Jake Vermuelen in June of 1981, and he passed away in July of 1990.  Maris moved to Sioux Falls and managed Gateway Apartments and there met Charlie Breaw, whom she married in 1999.  Charlie passed away in January of 2013.

Our mother was a great cook and generously offered second and third helpings for everything she made.  She was famous for her fried chicken, mashed potatoes with milk gravy, homemade buns, potato salad, raisin cream, and custard pies.  She also gave the biggest and best hugs.  She will be missed for that special feature.

Maris was an active member of the First Lutheran Church in Volga, South Dakota.  She taught Sunday School and Bible School for several years and was an active member of Ladies Aid, where she served as President.  Nothing was more important to Maris than her faith and her family.  She was an abiding Christian, a loyal wife, and a devoted mother.  She was a very loving grandmother to her 13 grandchildren, and truly loved and enjoyed her 30 great-grandchildren.

After moving to Sioux Falls she began attending Central Baptist Church.  She faithfully attended worship services, Sunday School, and weekly Bible Study classes, making deep, lasting friendships.  She had four best friends who supported one another through the years as each lost a husband.

Maris was gracious, kind, and always generous.  She loved God and had great faith in Him.  She read her Bible often and that's how she began and ended her day.  She would often call Kathy and share a verse that she had read and was important to her at the time.  After several occurances with cancer, she went to be in the arms of Jesus on June 20, 2020.

Maris is survived by her sons: Larry (Marcia) Knutson, of Spicer, MN, and Gary (Sandy) Knutson, of Volga, SD; daughters: Kathy (Randy) Tucker, of Sioux Falls, SD, and Kayleen (Marv) Bleeker, of Brookings, SD; 13 grandchildren and their spouses: Kelly (Tony) Anderson, of St. Cloud, MN, Marni (Jeff) Paffrath, of New London, MN, Kjerstin (Mitch) Baker of Willmar, MN, Amy (Jahn) Dyvik, of Long Lake, MN, Leah (Chad) Jacobs, of Sioux Falls, SD, Laura (Casey) Meile, of Sioux Falls, SD, Jordan (Jessi) Tucker, of Sioux Falls, SD, David (Hillary) Tucker, of Sioux Falls, SD, Ryan (Jennifer) Knutson, of Sioux Falls, SD, Emily (Jonathan) Paulsen, of Sioux Falls, SD, Kyle (Becky) Knutson, of Brookings, SD, Melissa (Troy) Wiskur, Elkton, SD, and Jessica (Jeremy) Blum, of White, SD; 30 great-grandchildren (and one on the way); two sister-in-laws: Marge Pike, of Jackson, MN, and Gloria Pike, of Aurora, SD, and many nieces and nephews.

Maris is preceded in death by her husbands, her brothers, 2 half brothers, and a great-grandchild, Gunnar Mark Dyvik.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Volga First Lutheran Cemetery at:

Eidsness Funeral Home ATTN: First Lutheran Cemetery

1617 Orchard Drive

Brookings, SD  57006

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:

The Family of Maris Knutson Breaw

C/O Eidsness Funeral Home

1617 Orchard Drive

Brookings, SD 57006