Sheila Beth (Prince) Knight, age 60, of Driggs, Teton County, Idaho passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024 from MS complications, surrounded by her husband of 42 years, Brent Arlin Knight, and their children.
Sheila was born on March 11,1964 in Denver, Colorado, the last of 13 children to Douglas Fletcher Prince and Beth Ola Gubler. She spent most of her growing up years as a city girl in Katy, Texas.
Sheila enjoyed singing and dancing, advancing to point shoes as a ballerina. She cherished her nickname “Cheetah” for her fast sprints. She loved spending time with Danny, her older handicapped brother and childhood her best friend. Every day she and Danny celebrated by throwing cards in the air, and shouting “Happy New Year!”. Her teen years were spent horseback riding, water skiing and swimming in the reservoir, dancing, diving, and getting dolled up for dances, musicals, and drill team performances.
Sheila met Brent while he served as a missionary in Houston, Texas for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lightning sparked when they shook hands. After completing a faithful mission and returning home to Hamer, Idaho, Brent went back for his “yellow rose of Texas”. Brent didn’t have a lot to offer, but promised his love and a sagebrush in Idaho. Sheila had fallen in love with Brent from the moment she first saw him and joyfully accepted his offer.
In 1982 Sheila graduated from high school then married Brent Arlin Knight on June 10th in the Jordan River, Utah, Temple. Together they moved to Rexburg, Idaho where they attended Ricks College. While pursuing a music education, Sheila became pregnant with the first of their 8 children, their daughter Beth. Together they had decided they would raise their children immersed in the outdoors and their family life bloomed.
Sheila and Brent moved to Hamer, Idaho where they lived close to Brent’s family and raised sheep. Sheila loved being close to her in-laws Arlin and Coralle Knight, who became very dear to her. In Hamer, she was very involved in the small towns community plays and activities. There they welcomed their second daughter, Sheena. Two years later, with great sorrow, they lost their third baby and first son, Spencer, soon after his birth. Spencer's death was followed by the cherished birth of their healthy daughter, Leanna and later another son, James. In 1991, soon after James’ birth they moved to Eaton, Colorado where they continued their work with sheep and their outdoor adventures. From Colorado they moved to Orem, Utah for a short while where they had another son, Arlin. They then moved to Driggs, Idaho where they lived in and renovated the family's historic home. Sheila’s life in the city was replaced again with wide-open spaces and sagebrush, and they lovingly welcomed two more sons, Thomas, and lastly Alex . Sheila would never trade her country life in Teton Valley, raising their small army of beautiful children, for the world.
Sheila’s love for family time led them on frequent trips into the mountains with Brent in the lead and all seven kids in tow—no small feat. She would spend extra time meal prepping and then carry a baby on her back to make their frequent family outdoor adventures possible for the whole family.
When her children left home, frequent hikes with friends and enjoying the outdoors with Brent was Sheila’s favorite way to spend her free time. She filled the mountains with laughter and cherished the simple joys that come with the fresh mountain air.
Sheila cherished people, she was a light to all around her, an unflinching example of faith and service, a loving and supportive wife to Brent, and the loving mother of her children.
Sheila was preceded in death and welcomed home by her brothers Steven, Danny, and Donald Prince; brothers-in-law Ronald Gierisch, Zachary George and Steve Heeder; her sisters Gwendolyn Mecham and Peggy Miller, sister-in-law Kristine Knight George, her father Douglas and mother Beth, mother-in-law Coralle Machen Knight, her son Spencer, and her granddaughter Edith Balleza.
Sheila is survived by her father-in-law Arlin Dalley Knight; brothers Leon (Leah), Bill (Julie), Warren (Emmie), Sam, Leland (Wende), and Kim (Gayla) Prince; brother-in-law David Miller, Leland Mecham, and Stacy (Kristi) Knight; sister Frances (Kerry) Gierisch-Williams, sisters-in-law Julia Prince, Karlyn Knight Heeder, and Carol Knight (Chad) Barksdale; her dear husband Brent, and 7 children Beth (Justin) Avenius, Sheena (Mark) Mckenna, Leanna (Joshua) Balleza, James (Sydney) Knight, Arlin (Angela) Knight, Thomas, and Alex; as well as 16 cherished grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at the Tetonia LDS Chapel, (209 S. Main St. Tetonia, ID 83452) on Monday, July 15, 2024 at 2:00 pm. The family will meet with friends and family for a viewing on Sunday, July 14, 2024 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm and again on Monday prior to services from 12:30 to 1:45 pm, both at the church. Interment will follow at the Cache-Clawson Cemetery.
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