She was born March 2, 1918, to Walter and Irene (Hart) Summers in the small community of Prathersville, near Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Growing up, she, her parents, and her five younger brothers lived in a number of houses in and around Prathersville, Excelsior Springs, and Liberty, but by the time she started high school, her family had moved to Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Northeast High School at the age of fifteen. When she was seventeen she finished junior college as part of Northeast’s “New Plan” program that was offered at that time.
After graduation she worked as a dental assistant in Excelsior Springs, then went to work for the Veterans Administration in Excelsior Springs and later in Kansas City. She lived next door to her future husband, Claude Robert (“Bud”) Knecht, for about a year and a half, but they didn’t begin dating until after her family had moved to another house. By the outbreak of World War II, they were a serious couple, and when he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Florida as an instructor, she visited him there. She waited for him while he served three years in the Signal Corps in North Africa and Italy. Thinking he was on his way home at the end of the War, she went to New York City to meet him, only to discover he had been shipped to Brazil. Several months later, however, he was on his way home for good, and, while his troop train was on its way to Fort Leavenworth, he got off in Kansas City to surprise her on her way to work across the street from Union Station.
Days after his return from the War, they were married on October 20, 1945, in her parents’ living room. They had two children, Robert (Margaret) and Linda Morrison (William). They were early residents of Roeland Park. She was a long time member of Roeland Park United Methodist Church and Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She was a stay at home mom until her children were out of elementary school then went to work as a bookkeeper, secretary, and receptionist for several physicians. She was active in school and church organizations for many years. They enjoyed family reunions, camping in their RV, traveling throughout North America, and Florida beaches. They moved to Shawnee in 1972 and later moved to Lenexa.
After Bud’s retirement, they fulfilled their dream and began wintering on the west coast of Florida in their RV. After doing this several years, they decided to buy a home near Palmetto, Florida. They split their time between Johnson County and Florida for several years, eventually staying full time in Florida. He died on May 17, 2005. Following his death, Walterene resumed living in Florida in winter and Lenexa in summer. She moved to a retirement community in Overland Park in 2013.
In addition to her children she leaves a brother, Wayne Summers (Mildred); three sisters-in-law, Helen Summers, Jo-An Summers, and Meta White (Paul); six grandchildren, Amy Morrison Palmentere, Chris Morrison, John Graham, Lauren Graham (Jonathan Gatson), Anna Knecht (Michael Greene), and John Knecht; and four great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and four brothers, Kenneth Summers, Donald Summers, Robert Summers, and Harold Summers.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later time when family and friends can gather unrestricted. The family wishes to thank the staff of Stratford Commons MemoryCare for their loving and devoted care during her years there.
