Our loving, brilliantly smart, wise cracking, hardworking husband, brother, father, and grandfather passed away February 17, 2024, in Nampa, Idaho at the age of 76 from natural causes with his family by his side. Steve was born Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947, to Joyce and Gordon Knott in Portland, Oregon. He was the second of four children. He had an older sister Karen, younger brothers Micheal and Darrell. Steve attended school in Portland and graduated from James Madison High School in 1965. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1966 and served as an electrician, being stationed in Okinawa, Japan and Alamogordo, New Mexico until 1970. Steve worked as an electrician for a few different companies around the Willamette Valley between 1970 and 1993, with most of that time spent at the paper mill in West Linn, Oregon. He also served in the Canby, Oregon police dept. as a reserve police officer in the mid 1970's. In 1994 the family relocated to eastern Oregon where Steve worked as an electrical supervisor for Boise Cascade until 2000 when he and his family relocated to Idaho, where he worked as the maintenance manager for Boise Cascade in Nampa, Idaho, and then Centennial Job Corp until his retirement in 2011. Steve is the father to three sons. Clayton, Brian, and his stepson Kent. He and his former wife Lorraine raised their sons outdoors as much as possible, there were many summers spent on the river and lakes, boating and water skiing. Steve enjoyed hunting, shooting, reloading his own ammo, fishing, horseback riding, ATV riding, camping, and fixing up old trucks and motorhomes. Steve met his wife Cathy in 2006. They enjoyed camping with family, fishing and floating Bear Valley Creek in their raft. Steve is the grandfather of seven grandchildren. His oldest son Clayton and wife Kristen were born McKenzie, Gracelyn, and Jacob. His youngest son Brian and wife Elizabeth were born Olivia, Logan, and Corbin. Steve's stepson Kent and wife Lori had step granddaughter Lily. Steve was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011. Although he would totally defeat cancer, it took a lot out of him. He would continue to fight through bouts of pneumonia and severe arthritis in his neck for the last 13 years. With Cathy's help and persistence, he always came through it. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Joyce, and baby brother Micheal. Steve is survived by his wife Cathy, his sons Clayton (Kristen), Brian (Elizabeth), and stepson Kent (Lori), his sister Karen, brother Darrell, seven grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, extended family, and his two 'fur' babies Sam and Hank. Steve was a believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For this reason, we know he is with our Lord in Heaven free of pain. A few of his last words to his family were, "He would see us in Heaven and would be riding a brand-new four-wheeler."

Steve's wishes were for there not to be a funeral or a memorial service. He wanted his ashes spread in the Bear Valley area near Stanley, Idaho. The family is planning a camping trip this coming Memorial Day weekend to honor his wishes. I'm sure if we didn't honor his wishes, he would be quick to tell us that "He would trade us for a cat and then shoot the cat," which was just one of his wisecrack sayings.