Anna Lee Knouft, 94, of Holton, passed away Thursday, April 18th, 2024 at Vintage Park of Holton. She was born January 23rd, 1930 in Springfield, Ohio to the late Emily and Manuel Fritts. She had been married to Harold Knouft, for 73 years when he passed away in May of 2023.
Anna Lee began her career as a telephone operator in 1957 at the local United Telephone Company. “When she began working at the telephone office dial service had not yet come to Holton. All calls, toll and local, had to be rung by an operator. In 1959, when the Holton Exchange was converted to dial operation, responsibility for handling toll calls still remained with the operator. With the conversion to direct long-distance dialing in December of 1979, the end of the line became apparent for the local operators and she was the last operator to sign off.” Holton Recorder 1979
She went on to work the switchboard at the Menninger Foundation until she found a position closer to home at Ron’s IGA, from where she finally retired.
Anna Lee was an incredible person with a passion for both gardening and caring for animals. Her dedication to her yards and landscaping on both Idaho and Oak Ridge Drive showed off her commitment to beauty and creation, while the love of her dogs (Shorty, Heidi, and Emmy) demonstrated her nurturing and compassionate nature. She found so much joy in her hobbies and the memories she created with her furry companions. She truly left a legacy of hard work, love and devotion.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Mildred Fritts, who died in infancy, and Barbara Cook.
Anna Lee Fritts married Harold Eugene Knouft in 1950, and they had three children together. Survivors include her children, Carolyn Bartlett (husband Scott) of Holton, Terry Taul (husband Bobby) of Holton, and Charles Knouft of Jasper, TX, six grandchildren, Heather DeBusk (husband Troy), Abbey Althof (husband Wyatt), Summer Wedermyer (husband Nate), John D’Orvilliers (wife Taylor), Tanner Taul (wife Kimberli) and Nathan Knouft, seven great grandchildren, and a sister, Betty Lou Smith, of Holton.
Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 22nd at the Holton Cemetery. Anna Lee will lie in state from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton, where visitation will be from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Heart of Jackson Humane Society, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1034, Holton, KS 66436.
