Richard Knapton

Richard William Knapton, 78, passed away in San Antonio, Texas on Dec. 9, 2015, surrounded at home by his family.

He was born on Aug. 3, 1937, in Bemidji, Minnesota, to Bill and Lenora Knapton. He is the oldest of three boys. At the end of World War II when he was in the third-grade his family moved from Bemidji to Columbia Falls, when his father Bill was asked by owner D.C. Dunham to establish and run a lumber mill there under the name Plum Creek. Over the years Plum Creek Timber Co. grew to become the largest private landowner in the United States.

Richard graduated as valedictorian from Columbia Falls High School in 1955. While in high school he worked for the Hungry Horse News and Plum Creek. He attended Montana State University where he was the student body president and graduated in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. Out of college he became a businessman in the forest products industry. During his career he held both sales and general management positions with Packaging Corporation of America, Willamette and Weyerhaeuser corporations.

Richard fell in love with and married Sandra Hewitt of Des Moines, Iowa, in 1964, his wife and devoted companion of 51 years. They settled in Bedford, Texas, and raised three children together, Brent, Kurt and Kristin. Richard retired in 2002 to be near grandchildren in Houston, Texas.

Throughout his life Richard was very active and enjoyed sports, golfing, fishing, coaching, traveling, skiing, running, hiking and all kinds of outdoor and sporting activities. Richard was a member of both the Optimist Club and Toastmasters, which fit his positive outlook on life and his great storytelling ability. He enjoyed people and was a natural leader. He was a faithful husband and family man. Most of all he enjoyed any type of family activity.

The only thing more important to Richard than family was his faith.  He received Christian baptism as an infant in 1940 at the First Presbyterian Church of Bemidji, Minnesota. As a young man in 1951, he was confirmed in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls, and he later followed the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized as an adult in 1972 at the First Baptist Church of Euless, Texas. He lived out his faith through a life of integrity and service to others as a coach and mentor to youth. His life verses from the Bible were Jeremiah 17:7-8.

In early 2014 Richard was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was an inspiration to many. Even as the symptoms of the neurological disease progressed, he was active in events and videos that helped build awareness and support in the ongoing effort to find a cure and help other ALS patients.

Richard is survived by his wife Sandra Knapton of San Antonio; and his three children, Brent and Michelle Knapton of Houston, Kurt and Martha Lu Knapton of Arlington, Texas, and Kristin and Layne Sedate of San Antonio; and seven grandsons, Luke Knapton, Erik Knapton, Michael Knapton, Brock Knapton, Brooks Knapton, Layton Sedate, David Sedate; and one granddaughter, Lauren Knapton. Richard’s two younger brothers also survive him: Jim Knapton of Conrad, and Doug and Janice Knapton of Columbia Falls. Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Lenora.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls, with Pastor Pete Erickson officiating. A reception will be held at the church immediately after the funeral service, followed by a graveside service at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell, where Richard will be laid to rest surrounded by the beautiful mountains where he grew up. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is in charge of arrangements.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association of Texas, Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Columbia Falls, or a charity of choice. Condolences may be sent to 19519 Clay Oak, San Antonio Texas, 78258.