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Bernard “Bernie” Elden Knapp

Jun 28, 2015
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Bernard "Bernie" Elden Knapp
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Bernard "Bernie" Elden Knapp

1929-2015

Bernie was born November 14, 1929 in Goshen, Idaho. The youngest of nine children born to Justin Willis and Mabel Fidelia Hale Knapp. Bernie passed away at his home in Provo, on May 29, 2015 of natural causes incident to old age. He had been in declining health since a fall in December.

Bernie grew up in Idaho Falls and Island Park, Idaho. Bernie graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1948. He attended Ricks College where he majored in General Agriculture with a minor in Animal Husbandry and graduated in 1953. He was drafted into the United States Army that July. He was assigned to the 29th field artillery battalion in Friedberg, Germany and served until May 1955.

Upon release from the service Bernie attended Utah State Universityin the fall of 1955 and studied to get a teaching certificate in Zoology. Prior to completing his degree he received a call to serve in the Southern Far East Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The mission was headquartered in Hong Kong, Bernie served in Taiwan from March 1958 to November 1960.

Upon returning home from the missionary service he attended Brigham Young University from 1961 to 1962 and completed his teaching certificate with a major in Zoology and a minor in Driver’s Education. A professor at BYU recommended Bernie to Utah Technical College in Provo, Utah. (Now Utah Valley University) Bernie taught Driver’s Ed from 1962 until he retired in 1988, and later worked part time at the same institution.

He married Louise Andrus in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 22, 1965. He passed away just short of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They have nine children: Lisa, Willis, (Jennifer Lyon), Justin, (Megan MacLennan) Shaun, Joseph, (MerriAnna Clark), Ruth, (DavidCalabro), Jess. (Lindsay Murphy), Kathy, (Thomas Thorpe) and Tim. They have 35 grandchildren and three great grandchildren with one more due in July. Bernie delighted in his posterity.

He loved missionary work and was pleased that seven of his children and two of his grandchildren, thus far, have served faithful missions for the LDS church.

Bernie was a talented artist and specialized in oil landscapes featuring mountains, streams, wildlife and evergreen trees reminiscent of his beloved Island Park. He also did some miniatures on porcelain.

He loved horses, wildlife, pine trees, driving, and caring for the elderly in his neighborhood.

He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Claudia, Warren, Marjorie, Thelma, Al, Marie and Justie. He is survived by his sister Ann Yorgensen.

Due to family circumstances with some of Bernie’s sons being overseas the funeral will be delayed one month and will be held in July. The viewing will be 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at the Provo Bonneville Stake Center, 85 South 900 East, Provo, UT. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 2, 2015 preceded by a viewing from 9:00 to 10:30 am at the same location. Interment will be at the Marion, Utah cemetery.

The family wishes to thank iCare Hospice, especially his nurse Kandy Jonas Rogers, for their attentive care in the final days of Bernie’s life.

As a tribute Bernie’s love for missionary work and generosity in supporting that cause the family is requesting donations to the LDS missionary fund in lieu of flowers.

Online condolences at www.premierfuneral.com