Beverly Ann Knight passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, at Tri-State Memorial Hospital in Clarkston. She was born Nov. 12, 1933, to John and Marie (Braun) Schlader of Nezperce. She had numerous cousins and double cousins.
Bev grew up in Nezperce and graduated from Nezperce High School. She married Robert Vernon Eller in 1954 in Honolulu, where they made their first home. They moved to Kamiah after Bob was discharged from the U.S. Navy. They later divorced. Bev married Wilbur "Bill" Knight and, boy, did they have fun. While raising seven children, she also worked for the Eller & Eller Cattle Ranch, as a substitute rural mail carrier, for the U.S. Forest Service and was co-owner of the Syringa Bar & Grill with Bill. She was landscape committee chairman for the St. Catherine's Catholic Church.
After Bev's retirement from the Forest Service, Bill and Bev moved to Lewiston and partnered with Jeff and Lori Eller to purchase Valley Sweeping Service. They later sold their interest in the business to Jeff and Lori and finally retired for good. Mom and Bill moved to Clarkston, and she worked making their home perfect. They also traveled in their Minnie Winnie (Winnebago) to Arizona, Alaska and many other places in between. Mom loved her gardens - a huge vegetable garden at the Kamiah ranch and later beautiful flower gardens with brick pavers and a fish pond at Clarkston.
She also loved to do dried-flower arrangements and quilt and sew. When Bill passed, Mom moved to a condo in Lewiston that she remodeled all on her own. In later years, she resided at Evergreen Estates, where her mother, Marie Schlader, lived during her final years. Mom said Evergreen has the best food. Mom also knew Peggy from her numerous visits to see her mother. Mom was such a wonderful and sweet person. She will truly be missed.
Bev is survived by her children, Jody Servatius (Fritz), Stan Eller (Kathy), Dan Eller (Rhonda), Nancy Christopherson (Rick), Randy Eller (Brenda), Barby Schacher (Jesse) and her baby boy, Jeff Eller (Lori); and stepchildren Bob Tegge (Lee), Oley Knight (Sylvia) and Maxine Byers (Ben). She also is survived by 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and siblings Orval Schlader (Pauline), Gary Schlader, Lois Lanier (Dave) and Nadine Reilly (Mike). Bev was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Knight; her parents; brother Dale Schlader; first husband Bob Eller; grandson Reggie Roberts; and stepson Paul Knight.
A Catholic Mass and private burial will be held for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested a donation may be made to Holy Family Catholic School or Tri-State Memorial Hospital in Clarkston.
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