Bettie Jo (White) Knight, age 89, of Stillwater, died Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Stillwater Medical Center. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Strode Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 16, 2025 at Stillwater First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Marena Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.



Bettie Jo, the eldest of the five children of the Rev. Elvin White and his wife Lorene was born in Strickler, Arkansas, March 7, 1935. Since her father was a Methodist minister and they were moved around quite often, Bettie lived in a variety of places while growing up. They moved from Strickler, Ark. to Boswell, OK, then Kiowa, OK during the war years. Then the family moved to Red Oak, Shidler, Prague, and, finally to Elmore City.


It was in Elmore City that she met the love of her life, Clyde Knight, a handsome college student finishing his degree at Ada. They were married as Clyde finished his degree and Bettie completed her junior year of high school. They set up housekeeping in Stratford, OK, where Bettie finished her senior year and Clyde taught shop at the high school. It was in Stratford that Clyde built them their first house and their first son, David Mark was born.


They moved to Shawnee when Clyde got an offer to teach in a new program of carpentry and shop. He built Bettie a new house there and their son Dale Allen was born. After several years they moved to Stillwater where Clyde began a long career at OSU teaching the in the Trade and Industrial Program. During their years in Stillwater, they built three different houses.


In June of 1968 the Knights began some exciting adventures when Clyde headed a Mission from OSU setting up T & I programs for the Thai government. They spent several years in Thailand with Clyde traveling and working on programs and Bettie teaching at the American School in Bangkok. They often invited students to their home and made many life-long friends.


In 1985 they accepted another overseas assignment, traveling to Jordan where Bettie taught English to prospective doctors while Clyde worked with the university.


Bettie had continued her own education as she got the chance, eventually earning her doctorate in English from OSU. Teaching seemed to be her calling. From Sunday School classes to overseas assignments and then classes in English and Literature at Langston, Tulsa University, OSU, and UCO at Edmond she shared her love of literature and learning with countless students. She was very organized. Her notes on one favorite class--Women in the Bible--are neatly arranged in a large file drawer. Four other neat drawers contain her Sunday school lessons and other class lessons. Her house is filled with books-over a thousand volumes, and she probably read every one.


Bettie lost Clyde in 2007 but she continued to teach at UCO until her eyesight began to fail. She was still able to live alone in her house. Her son and his partner Kevin lived nearby. She had the help of a faithful, caring housekeeper, Lisa, and nurse aid, Sheila. She was able to enjoy life even as her eyesight continued to fail. Though she could no longer see the birds, deer, and raccoons that visited her yard, she continued to put our food for them. When she could no longer read, she enjoyed her audio books. She always loved word games, and even when her eyesight was nearly gone enjoyed playing Password. She had to have the words written in heavy marker in large letters, but she still enjoyed her game.


She was a loving wife, sister, mother, and friend to the last She went to be with Jesus and Clyde January 11 at 9 PM. She was preceded in death by her husband, both parents, two sisters-Glenda Sue and Patsy Ruth--and her son David Mark. She is survived by her son, Dale Knight, a sister, Margret Awtrey (Conrad) of La Crosse, WI, a brother Wesley White (Angela) of Tulsa, OK, her nieces, Rebecca Yuan of Lebanon, NH, Linda Jean Allen of McAlester, OK, Cheryl Awtrey of Madison, WI, and her nephews David Awtrey of Washburn, WI, and Brian White of Grand Rapids, MI.


Those wishing to honor Bettie's memory may do so by donating to Stillwater First United Methodist Church.