Viella Knodel, 104

Viella Anne (Streyle) Knodel, 104, of Freeman, S.D., passed away Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 at Freeman Regional Nursing Home.

A funeral service was held Monday, Sept. 22 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Menno, S.D., with Rev Brian Mosemann officiating. Interment was at the Menno City Cemetery.

Viella, daughter of Jacob and Christina (Mettler) Streyle, was born July 20, 1921. Viella was the 12th child of 13 children. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Zion Reformed Church of Menno. After marriage, Viella was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.

On March 15, 1946 she was married to H. Raymond Knodel and spent her years helping on the family farm until Ray died in 1988. In 1994 she moved her house to Freeman. In 2019 Viella entered Salem Mennonite Assisted Living. In 2024 she entered Freeman Regional Nursing Home.

Viella worked on the farm raising their four children, milking cows, raising chickens and a large garden. She made many birthday cakes for them to have cousins and friends over to celebrate with.

Later they were blessed with eleven grandchildren with whom they celebrated their birthdays and followed them in their athletic activities. Some of the younger ones that lived away from Freeman, would come for visits with them, play games and have wonderful times together. Viella would get many calls and cards from the grandchildren as she grew older.

Viella was also a great cook and made the best German food like Fleischkuekle, Kuchen and cookies. Viella was also a good seamstress and made many of the family’s clothes.

Cherishing her memory are daughter, Patricia McMahon; daughter Marilyn and husband Lanny Long; son James and wife Eileen and daughter Barbara and husband Terry Buechler; grandchildren: Linda (Dan) Davey and Darren (Cheryl) Rademacher, Richard (Rebecca) Buchmann, Michael Buchmann, Mark (Rose) Buchmann, and Stanley Buchmann, Eric (Catherine) Knodel), Courtney (Todd) Frerichs and Jeremy Knodel, Heather Buechler and Michelle Buechler (Goeff Flack); two step-grandchildren, Michelle (John) Spevak and Laurie Long (Melanie Peltz); 20 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Verna Knodel and close friend Twyla Mehlhaf; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Viella in death were her parents; her husband H. Raymond Knodel; and two sons-in-law. Also, seven brothers, five sisters and spouses; four sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-laws along with two brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law on Ray’s side.