MINOR ROBERT RUDOLPH McKINIGHT obituary

Minor Robert Rudolph McKnight, 82, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at Northern Montana Hospital of heart failure.

A public viewing will be held Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home, with his funeral service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael O'Hearn officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside services. Memorial contributions in Minor's honor may be made to the First Lutheran Church. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Minor was born May 16, 1927, in Chicago, to Wilma Jane (Holliday) McKnight and was adopted as a young boy by Walter Clair McKnight. He was raised and educated in Havre, Mont., entered the United States Navy on Aug. 15, 1945, and was honorably discharged in 1946. He married Audrey Irene Torkelson Aug. 9, 1952, at the First Lutheran Church. Together they made their home in Havre, where Minor worked for the Great Northern Railroad for 42 years until he retired in 1989. Minor enjoyed golfing andbowling, and he maintained a beautiful yard. He was always seen outside watering his lawn and waving at, and visiting with people as they passed by. He and Audrey loved to be at their cabin in the Bear Paw Mountains. He loved music, coins and stamps and has a vast collection of each. He enjoyed keeping in touch with his friends and old classmates over the years, and he loved to travel to Minnesota each year to visit Audrey's relatives. He made his last trip in August 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Audrey, in May 2003. Minor is survived by his children, Greg (Ann) McKnight of Havre, Mont., Janet (Greg) Van Kleeck of Seward, Alaska, Cheryl (Tom Aevermann) McKnight of Havre, Mont., Carol McKnight Minnick of Seward, Alaska; Robert (Cynthia) McKnight of Mesa, Ariz.; his aunt, Eleanor Holliday of Belfair, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, and nine greatgrandchildren.