Vivian B. McKnight

Vivian B. McKnight, 100, of Weiser, Idaho, passed away on September 25, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love and family. Born on August 4, 1925, in Emmett, Idaho, she was the ninth of ten children of Maurice Edgar Ball and Agnes Malloy Bennett.

Vivian’s century long story is one of resilience, love, generosity and devotion to her family and faith.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Vivian’s family moved frequently, often living near Council, Idaho, and along the Middle Fork of the Weiser River. Her early years were marked by hardship, including the loss of her father and her older brother Cecil, before her family eventually settled in Weiser, Idaho, in 1937.

After graduating from Weiser High School in 1943, Vivian briefly moved to Boise, Idaho to train in business bookkeeping and telegraph transcription. Upon completing her training, she returned to Weiser to work for Western Union. In 1946, Edwin “Bud” McKnight, a U.S. Marine and World War II veteran, arrived in Weiser to live with his uncle, Harvey Launt. Vivian and Bud met, fell in love, and were married in January 1947. Together, they raised four children, all born in Weiser.

A dedicated homemaker, Vivian was deeply involved in her community, participating in the PTA, Eastern Star, Bible studies, and her mother’s beloved congregation, Weiser Christian Church. In the late 1970s, she and her daughter Cheryl ran a children’s clothing store, reflecting her entrepreneurial spirit. Vivian’s life was marked by boundless energy, generosity, and joy. With her sister Erchel, she delighted in picking and canning fruits, especially huckleberries, and later enjoyed metal detecting. Her home was always open for countless Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations, where family gathered to share in the warmth she created.

Vivian’s love of travel took her to Hawaii, the Holy Land, Arizona, the Caribbean, the Oregon Coast, and Nebraska, as well as frequent mountain retreats to McCall and camping trips on the Middle Fork of the Weiser River, often alongside her siblings.

Vivian was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bud, her parents, and her siblings. She is survived by her four children, Mike (Lisa) McKnight, Tim (Becky) McKnight, Rod (Brenda) McKnight, and Cheryl (Bret) Karnes, to whom she devoted her life. She also leaves behind eight cherished grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, who carry forward her enduring legacy of love and family.