Betty Jo McKnight

Betty was born on October 31, 1934, in Ava, Missouri—a small town of about 1,000 people at the time. In her high school years she met Robert (Bob) L. McKnight, the man who would become her husband. After graduation, Bob joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in California. Betty followed and the two were married on August 29, 1953. They faithfully and joyfully honored the vows they made and celebrated 70 years of marriage before Bob’s passing in 2024.

While Betty and Bob were two small-town kids when they met, Bob’s years of military service and subsequent civilian career would take them all over the country and even across the world. From California they moved to Hawaii, then Idaho, then Connecticut, then South Dakota, then Wyoming, and finally Illinois after Bob’s honored military retirement. Bob commenced a rigorous civilian career at that time that took them to South Korea. After many years of braving colder temperatures, Betty and Bob finally settled in Bedford, Texas.

It was Betty’s unwavering support of Bob’s career and devotion to the lifestyle of a military wife that allowed them their rich family life and legacy: through all the years spent in constant motion, they welcomed son Terry, daughter Kimber, daughter Bridget, and son Jeffrey. To Betty, family was all-important, second only to Christ. She was a dedicated and steadfast lifelong Christian who passed her love of Christ onto her children.

Betty was an avid volunteer throughout her life: she manned the crisis pregnancy line at Christian Broadcast Channel 38, taught English as a second language in Chicago, and provided spiritual support to hospital patients through the Good Samaritan Hospital chaplain program. These causes were all very dear to her generous heart. Betty also cherished the warm, lasting relationships she built with her neighbors, many of whom became dear friends over the years.

Betty will be remembered by her numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren for her kindness, patience, seemingly endless tolerance for chaos, and reliability: she baked pies for school events, hosted or attended all holiday gatherings, birthdays, and celebrations in-between, and if she couldn’t make it in person, could be counted on to send a card offering love and prayers in her beautiful, perfect cursive. Her family misses her dearly but takes comfort in knowing that she was greeted at the gates of Heaven with those hallowed words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” She will live on always through the many, many people that were blessed to know her and love her during her long and fruitful life.

Betty is survived by her children: Terry McKnight, Kimber (William) Sunday, Bridget (Jerry) Barnes, and Jeffrey (Rhetta) McKnight. She is survived by her 11 grandchildren: Nathan (Desiree) McKnight, Sally (Gaston) Donoso, Kelly (Andy) Johnson, Ryan (Amanda) Sunday, Chad (Cayla) Sunday, Daniel (Claudia) Sunday, Allison (Brad) David, Nicholas (Brittany) Barnes, Sydney (Ricky) Matsko, Dylan (Megan) McKnight, and Jacob (Jessica) McKnight. She is also survived by 22 great grandchildren. Betty is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, daughter-in-law Janis, grandson Jay, and great-grandson Jonah.