Beth J. Knapton, 83

Beth J. Knapton, 83, passed away Thursday, June 28, 2007, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. Beth was a leap year baby, born Feb. 29, 1924, in Bemidji, Minn., to Ralph and Bernetta Cronemiller. She was raised on a dairy farm with her brother and sisters.

Beth received a teaching degree from Bemidji State College and then moved west.

She was married to Kenneth Knapton, a school mate at Bemidji, in 1946. They settled in Columbia Falls, where Kenny worked for Plum Creek and Beth raised their four children.

She was afflicted with Parkinson's and spent her last 10 years in assisted living, succumbing at the Lutheran Home.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Mark, and his wife, Carmen.

Beth is survived by her brother, John Cronemiller, and his wife, Lila; a sister, Marion Nelson, and her husband, Don; a sister, Helen Nelson; her son, Dean, and his wife, Jeri; daughters, Susan Supola and Roberta Pauley; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was kind and good, loved loving, and the enormous strength of her faith carried her through the bad times and enriched the good times.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 7, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Pastor Darrell Newby will officiate.

The family has suggested that memorials be made to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program.