Larry Knight

Larry Wayne Knight

December 10, 1942 - September 24, 2025

Larry Wayne Knight died peacefully on September 24th, 2025 in the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston, Idaho, at the age of 82. Larry was born December 10th, 1942, to Lyle Warren and Leila Neva Knight in Kamiah, Idaho. He was the oldest of six children. He lived in an old silo as a baby and started driving farm equipment at the age of 6. Larry went to school at the Caribel Schoolhouse in his early years. He graduated from Kamiah High School in 1960 with honors. He was very active in school and participated in the honor society, was a class president of the student council, and a captain of the football team. The Kubs won the Idaho HS Football Conference Title his Senior year. After high school he attended the University of Idaho studying mechanical engineering. After college and on breaks he was home helping Lyle on the family farm.

Larry was in the Idaho Army National Guard 116th Engineer Battalion, "Ad Capulum (To The Hilt)", and deployed to Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He was a platoon leader that worked to clear mines from bridges. He received many military honors for his service, including a purple heart. After returning home, Larry married the love of his life, Donna Rogers, on April 10th, 1970 and loved her and her three children, Marvin, Debra and Melissa, as his own. In March, 1971, they welcomed their daughter Monica into the world. They made their home on Caribel Road in Kamiah where they raised their children and built their home overlooking the Kamiah valley and the Camas Prairie.

Larry worked from a young age for his parents and for neighbors. He saved every penny he could to buy land that he eventually made a living on and raised his family. Larry and Donna were farmers and ranchers. They grew grain, hay, and raised cattle. They also raised horses and cow dogs for work and play. Above all he was a devoted husband, father, grandpa, son, brother and friend.

Along with farming, Larry enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a crack shot with a rifle and loved fishing the small creeks for trout. Larry also helped his dad build a small sawmill. He and family members sawed lumber for the barns, feeders, fence, his house, and for anyone in need of lumber. He also had a tremendous talent for operating machinery, especially his dozer. He could operate just about anything and was willing to teach others.

Larry and Donna attended the Woodland Friends Church for most of their married lives. It was a community of people they really enjoyed and made life-long friends with. Larry was a well-respected man by anyone who crossed paths with him. Never a bad word was spoken about anyone no matter how frustrated he was with him or her. He was a masterful teacher of anything he was accomplished in. The kids and grandkids who spent any amount of time with him knew what he stood for: strength, honesty, hard work, respect, and having a solid foundation and love for family.

Larry is survived by his children: Marvin Mendenhall and Debbie Bunch of Kamiah, Idaho, Missy Knight of Kooskia, Idaho, and Monica Hagen (Patrick) of Keuterville, Idaho; his grandchildren: Marvin (Rhonda) Mendenhall, Levi Mendenhall, Amanda Earles (James), Jeremiah Bunch, Amber Schemadeka (William "Tel"), Joshua Knight (Casey), Ashley Booze (Todd), Jacob Prado, Trever Knight, Devin Knight, and Simon and Agustus Hagen; his siblings: Ron (Laura) Knight of Medford, Oregon, Ken Knight and Jerry Knight of Kamiah, Idaho; Marleena Jones of Princeton, Idaho; sisters in law: Ruth Anderson of Milton, Washington and Julia Ayers of Cahone, Colorado, and numerous greatgrandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Donna, his parents, his Son-in-law Mike Bunch, his grandchildren David Bunch, Heather Bunch, and his sister-in-law, Shirley Weddle; his Brother-in-laws Steve Jones, Norman Ayers and Jesse Weddle.

Funeral will be held at St. Catherine's of Sienna Catholic Church in Kamiah on October 11th, 2025, 10:30 a.m. Family friends Greg Gibler will lead the service and his wife, Carol, will be providing the music. Burial directly follows at the Kamiah Cemetery with military honors and a potluck luncheon afterward at St. Catherine's in the basement (meat and rolls provided). Trenary Funeral Home oversees arrangements (trenaryfuneralhome.com) Donations may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org) or Shriner's Hospital (donate.lovetotherescue.org).