Michael Knott

December 16, 1953 ~ January 21, 2024 (age 70)

Stevensville – Michael John Knott passed away Sunday, January 21st, 2024 in Missoula, Montana surrounded by his family. He was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in July of 2023, he succumbed to complications of pneumonia in the care of St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. Funeral   services will be held at Living Savior Lutheran Church in Missoula on February 17th, 2024 at 11:00 am, visitation will begin at 10:00 am. Michael was born on December 16th, 1953, in Tracy, Minnesota, to Robert and Viola Knott, he was the third of their four sons. He was baptized and confirmed his faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy. He graduated from Tracy High School in 1972, during his youth he was active in 4-H, FFA, Lutheran Youth Society, sports, choir, and band. Family gatherings with grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins were all special to him.

Michael graduated from the University of Minnesota-Crookston with a Wildlife Management degree. He returned to the family farm in Tracy and formed a partnership with his father and brother. He married his first wife Jean Olson on November 15th, 1975 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and was blessed with the birth of Catherine (78) and Matthew (81). He married his second wife Julia Schmidt on July 31st, 2004 in Corvallis, Montana and loved her until his death.

Michael’s love for the great outdoors and the mountains was ignited by two trips he took as a young adult with high school friends. The first trip was a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness canoe portaging camping trip in Minnesota and the second was a trip to the western United States in the Rocky Mountains. His love for the mountains guided his path in life with Montana always having a strong hold on where he found his peace. The lure of the west brought his family to Montana, first to White Sulphur Springs, Bozeman, Corvallis, and finally to Stevensville, Montana where he was a sawyer, youth coach, hunting guide, owner of an outfitters guide school, and a ranch hand at Bitterroot Spring ranch for 18 years.

After attending Elm Outfitters and Guides Training Program he went on to become a guide for White Cloud Outfitters in Challis, Idaho. He spent 11 years in his element guiding hunters in Idaho and later became the owner/director of Elm Outfitters and Guides Training Program. He enjoyed assisting students with finding hunting guide jobs all over the Rockies. He always said, “if you do what you love, you won’t work a day in your life”. Michael was a very giving man, especially within his church, serving on the Living Savior Church council as an elder to the congregation, loving his church family, and planning and setting up retreats in nature.

The morning of January 21st, 2024, Michael settled into the saddle and began his final journey, that evening he dropped his reins to the ground, stepped out the stirrups, and into the arms of his savior. Michael leaves behind his wife Julia of Stevensville, Montana, daughter Catherine Talks of Waconia, Minnesota, son Matthew and grandson Callan of Salmon, Idaho, his brothers Steven (JoAnne) of Tracy, Minnesota, Charles (Paula) of Howard Lake, Minnesota, and David (Kristen) of Tracy, Minnesota. Michael was proceeded in death by his father Robert, mother Viola, grandparents Earl and Ruth Knott and John and Elma Johnson, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

FUNERAL SERVICE

Saturday
February 17, 2024
11:00 AM
Living Savior Lutheran Church
4616 Gharrett Ave.
Missoula, MT