Iris Stevens

Iris G. Stevens, age 96 of Amboy, MN, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2026, at Mayo Health Center in Mankato, MN. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church, Amboy. Visitation will be at the church on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. and continue one hour prior to the service on Monday. Burial will be at Pleasant View Cemetery, rural Amboy.

Iris Goldie Knudson was born on November 10, 1929, to Lowell and Alice (Olson) Knudson of St. James, MN. She was raised in a rural area near Godahl, MN, and was baptized and confirmed at the Albion Lutheran Church, St. James. Iris and her twin sister, Claris, attended country school and later graduated from St. James High School in 1947. Iris attended Mankato Commercial College, where she met the love of her life!

David and Iris Stevens were united in marriage on December 10, 1949, at the Albion Lutheran Church. They eventually made their home on the family farm in Shelby Township where they raised four sons and one daughter: Douglas, Michael, Robert, William, and Ruth. Together they worked the farm until 1982 when they retired and moved into Amboy. David and Iris were happily married for over 62 years before his passing in 2011.

Sharing her Christian faith was important to Iris. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Amboy, taking on many leadership and officer roles, not only as an ordained elder of the church but also as a life member of the Presbyterian Women’s Association. She taught Sunday School, confirmation classes, and led numerous Bible Study groups. Throughout the years, Iris also served on many committees at the regional and state levels within the Minnesota Valley Presbytery. Ultimately, her faith journey led her to becoming a certified lay pastor, a role that placed her in many area churches for pulpit supply. Iris was also a long time member of the Amboy Lions Club.

In her spare time, Iris could often be found amongst the crowd at any type of high school sporting event, dance recital, band or choir concert, drama performance, as well as 4H livestock shows at county and state fairs. Through the years, Iris supported and cheered on children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren as often as she could! She enjoyed summer vacations with family and made annual trips to her favorite bed & breakfast near Foley, MN. Regardless of where she was, faith and family were Iris’s greatest passions that never faltered.

Iris is survived by her four sons, Doug, Amboy; Mike (Mary) of Mankato; Bob (Dara) of Vernon Center; Bill (Sandy) of Foley; and her daughter Ruth (Dan) Lemmon of Amboy; 10 grandchildren: Michelle Martig, Jon (Angela) Stevens, Becca Thorston, Angie (Clinton) Mellies, Andy (Carlie) Stevens, Hallie Stevens, Brandon (Shaina) Stevens, Tyler (Samantha) Lemmon, Tanner (Kelsey) Lemmon, Trevor (Kenzie) Lemmon; and 19 great-grandchildren: Marshall, Marsha and Maddox Martig; Emery and Reagan Stevens; Reid Thorston; Brooke and Logan Mellies; Kaden, Addison, Rylee and Zoey Stevens; Oliver and Fynn Stevens; Levi, Eleanor and Brinley Lemmon; Noah Lemmon; and Elsie Lemmon. She is also survived by one niece and five nephews.

Iris is preceded in death by her parents; husband, David; granddaughter, Marsha Kay Stevens; twin sister, Claris (Knudson) Ginkel; and in-laws: Wally Ginkel, Russell and Ruth (Stevens) Johnson, and Kenneth and Eleanor Stevens.