Dannie Jean Knight

MISSOULA ~ Dannie Jean Knight was born in Lamesa, Texas on September 07, 1926, to Sula and William Matheny. Her name was Dannie because Sue had decided no matter if it was a girl or boy, the name would be Dannie. She was adored by her parents, who apparently had a high tolerance for their adventurous, okay misbehaving, daughter. One of her adventures in adolescence was going to swim in the pond. Sue forbad her from going to the pond because of the cotton-mouth water moccasin snakes. Mom would sneak off anyway, swim until dinnertime, then go home. She figured out after a few times of getting in trouble that she could swim and not get caught if she took off all of her clothes. Mom was fearless as a child and remained that way her entire life.

Bill passed away unexpectedly when Mom was 10 years old. Heartbroken, she found comfort with her best friend Eddy, a pet owl that her dad had given her. Sue re-married Jacob Flick when Mom was a teenager and they moved to Hammon, Oklahoma. After graduating high school, she took the bus to Amarillo, Texas and began work with the Western Union Telegraph. She transferred to Washington D.C., then to San Francisco. When her parents were having health problems, she left her job to move back to Hammon to care for them. It was then that Mom gave up her career to marry Elmer Linville in 1948. Their family grew with the births of Carolyn, Lana, and Susie. Mom’s life revolved around their farm, family and friends, and her Southern Baptist faith. She was a great cook who regularly made 4-6 pies each morning. No one ever left her house hungry!

Dannie & Elmer divorced after moving to Montana in 1964. Mom loved it here and made the decision not move back to Oklahoma. Being a single mother in the 1960’s with limited work history was not easy. Mom secured a job with the Northern Pacific Railroad as an agent, and thus began her second career. She subsequently worked for the Milwaukee Road in Highwood, Harlowton, Choteau and Fairfield, then the Burlington-Northern before she retired.

Mom was set up on a blind date with a bachelor farmer named Don Knight. The story goes that Don almost wrecked his car while driving past the train depot to see what Mom looked like. Then he didn’t show up for their date because he was busy playing pool at the Silver Dollar bar. After a few bumps in the road, Don asked Mom if they should surprise the girls and get married. They eloped to Coeur d’Alene on May 9, 1977 with Ron, Carol, Lana and Chris in attendance. They had to have witnesses because no one would believe that they had gotten married! We three daughters gained a wonderful father that we initially called Papa-Don. Over the years, it shortened to Pa, then everyone knew them as Ma & Pa. They shared love and laughter for over 48 years together until Pa’s passing on July 13th of this year.

Mom was a talented seamstress. During some tough years, she sewed all of our clothes. Our school friends wanted to trade with us because ours were different from the Sears & Roebuck catalog clothes. Mom sewed us girls matching new Easter dresses every year to wear to church, sometimes staying up into the wee hours to finish them. She made endless table clothes and runners to share with friends and family.

Mom had other talents and interests: gardening & canning the vegetables, creating sketches with charcoal, painting with oils, fishing, dancing, reading, playing cards, the color red, being in the mountains, swimming at hot springs, visiting with anyone with whom she could capture their attention. Mom also loved to ride bikes but she had terrible balance. We could see when she was going to wreck, like in slow motion, she would just let herself fall over. She never once hurt herself from those bike wrecks.

Mom passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 28th after being under the loving care of Partner’s Hospice for 2 weeks. She was strong willed and did things her way, even at the end of her life.

Dannie was preceded in death by her husband, parents, siblings Marie and Joyce Underwood, and daughter Carolyn. She is survived by daughters Lana Kaye Johnson, Susie (Rick) Hilmes, honorary daughter Danette (Randy) Arnzen, honorary sons Chris Johnson and Roger Beck: grandchildren Jarod (Carin) Johnson, Ken (Giovanna) Gingras, Lana Lou (Dale) Cochrane, Duane (Lisa) Gingras, and Valerie Gingras. Also surviving are nephews Ron (Carol) Ostberg, Rick (Earlene) Ostberg, Jerry (Cathi) Knight, Arnie (Linda) Knight, Jack (Theresa) Knight, John Taylor, and nieces Carol (Marvin) Strom, Sherry (George) Deaton, Cindy (Tony) Blanton, Tammy (Tommy) Comer, Janice (Bob) Loss, and Barb (Bruce) Buss, along with many great-grandchildren, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Please join us for a memorial service at 11:00 on Friday, December 12th under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 7405 Mullan Road in Missoula. A luncheon will follow the service.

Mom always found meaning in words. The last few years, she left notes everywhere with her favorite phrase “Life is a journey, not a destination”. When we look at all she survived in her life and the joy she found every day, I would say she had quite a journey.