Rula Knight

Rula Knight

FARMINGTON a€" Rula Poulsen Knight, beloved wife, mother and "best friend" to everyone she met, passed away early Sunday morning, July 24, 2011, in Clearfield, Utah. Rula was surrounded by her children and her husband, Lyle, as she completed this mission and shouldered her backpack for her next adventure. She was three weeks shy of her 90th birthday.

Rula was born in Clawson, Teton County, Idaho on August 18, 1921 to George and Reta Bagley Poulsen. The first of five children, she and her parents moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming when she was two years old where her father worked as a mechanic operating Poulsen''s Garage until 1968. Rula attended public school in Jackson Hole, graduating from Jackson High School in 1939.

After high school Rula worked as a bookkeeper for the Ford garage in Jackson Hole, and then moved to Los Angeles during World War II to work for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as an accountant/bookkeeper. When the war ended, she returned to Jackson Hole. It was there that she rekindled a relationship with Lyle Knight, a handsome young U.S. Army Air Force pilot also from Teton Valley, Idaho. The two had first met in 1937 when, as Lyle said, "I couldn''t take my eyes off of her."

Lyle and Rula were married at the Fort Douglas Chapel in Salt Lake City, July 13, 1946, the beginning of a 65 year love affair. Rula traveled with Lyle supporting him in his career as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. During those years they had three children: Debbie, born on Guam in 1948, George, born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1949, and Jim, also born in San Antonio in 1953.

Throughout her life, Rula was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was especially dedicated to the youth, and she devoted countless hours camping, counseling, backpacking and working to build the spirits and testimonies of the young people she loved so much. She and Lyle also were missionaries for the Church at the Peter Whitmer Farm and visitor center in Waterloo, New York.

Lyle and Rula spent their winters in Farmington, Utah and their summers in Teton Valley, Idaho within five miles of where they were both born. While they loved their dear friends and ward members in Farmington, Lyle and Rula could hardly wait until spring when they could pack up their belongings and head to "the ranch."

Rula is survived by her loving husband, Lyle, her three children and their spouses: Debbie (Gary) Williams, George (Pam) Knight, and Jim (Liz) Knight; 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, hundreds of "adopted kids;" and two sisters: Lona Keist and Connie Sinclair.

A memorial service will be held Friday, July 29, 2011 at 2 p.m. at the Farmington 8th Ward Chapel, 1885 North Summerwood Drive, Farmington, Utah. Friends can meet with the family beginning at 12 noon. A graveside service will be held at the Cache Clawson Cemetery near Tetonia, Idaho on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 3 p.m.

Services entrusted to Lindquist''s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 North Main.