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Deborah Lee Siemsen, age 70, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. She was born August 21, 1951 to Richard Lee and Lois Marjorie (Afseth) Erickson in Lanesboro, MN. She was baptized at the Henrytown Lutheran Church as a baby, and the date of her confirmation was May 16, 1965. She grew up on a farm just outside of Canton, MN. Deb attended Canton High School and graduated from Mabel-Canton High School with honors in 1969 where she was a cheerleader, first chair clarinet, member of Glee Club, German Club, FHA, on the newspaper staff, student council, and vice president of Luther League. She attended nursing school in Rochester, MN and was the secretary for the Canton Presbyterian Church. Deborah married Jerry Nolan Knowlton on July 10, 1971 at Henrytown Lutheran Church in Canton, MN. They had three children: Amy, Laurie, and Jeremy. Deborah and Jerry moved to Cheyenne, WY in 1979 where Deborah was a homemaker and later on worked as a Unit Secretary at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. After her retirement, she was a volunteer at Meals on Wheels in Cheyenne. Deb had a larger-than-life personality, unique sense of humor, and was incredibly entertaining! Deb passed her wisdom on to her children, and she had a lot of that. She had so many hobbies and interests to include: sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitch. Everything she created, she put her all into it and a whole bunch of love. She loved her plants, gardens, and flowers. She could grow anything! Deb was an amazing cook and baked the best cinnamon rolls that ever were. Most importantly, she had an enormous love for her two grandchildren Zachary Ronning of Cheyenne, WY, and Jonathan Buchanan of Windsor, CO, and her many nieces, and nephews. Deb was a cancer survivor. She was strong and tenacious through her experience. However, her strong faith in God made it possible for her to walk out of the hospital shortly after surgery. On April 23, 2009, Deb married Kris Lars Siemsen at a beautiful ceremony near the Cheyenne Botanical Gardens. Kris was a wonderful husband and is a wonderful step-father. He loves Deb’s family as if they are his own. She is survived by her husband Kris Siemsen; children Amy (Joel) Whalen of Dayton, OH, Laurie (Steve) Walters of Cheyenne, WY, and Jeremy Knowlton of Cheyenne, WY; two grandchildren Zachary Ronning of Cheyenne, WY, and Jonathan Buchanan of Windsor, CO; sister Julie (Bob) Hayes of Fountain Inn, SC; brothers Michael (Alissa) Erickson of Culbertson, NE, and Richard (Joleen) Erickson of Canton, MN; and many nieces and nephews. There will be no services per her request. A celebration of life will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, you may contribute to Meals on Wheels or a charity of choice in her memory.

Tributes

Deborah Lee Siemsen

August 21, 1951 - July 12, 2022