Brenda Lee (Hiller) Knight

Brenda Lee (Hiller) Knight was called home on September 21, 2020.  She was 70 years of age. She died at home surrounded by her family and friends after five years of struggle from complications of dementia and breast cancer.

Brenda was born in Petoskey on April 5, 1950, to Jack and Grace Hiller. The third eldest of four children, she grew up on West Lake Street with her siblings Jackson, Bonnie and Barbie. In those days, you may have known her as “Benny.”  She spent her childhood swimming in the Bay, ice skating in the winters, and spending her Sunday mornings at Parr Memorial Baptist Church, where she gave her life to Jesus.

At Petoskey High School she met “her Jeffrey,” with whom she would share 47 years of marriage. She graduated from nursing school and practiced nursing (alongside her mother-in-law Eleanor Knight) in Petoskey, until her husband’s Air Force career took them across the country. They criss-crossed the US with their three daughters for 28 years and then returned to Petoskey after Jeff’s retirement.

Brenda was crazy about her Jeffrey and her affection for him was evident to all in both her words and actions.  They never stopped dating, holding hands, or giving affectionate kisses while their daughters pretended to be grossed out. She claimed to be responsible for wearing the hair on the top of his head thin with her many kisses.

As a mom, she prayed consistently for her daughters and grandchildren and traveled often to New York, Colorado or Marquette, MI, to visit them.  She traveled to Romania twice to share in ministry there with her daughter, Jacci.  She was her eldest granddaughter Ashton’s biggest cheerleader and became her youngest granddaughter Bristol’s best buddy.  (And of course, she loved her puppies: Sheba, Ronaele, Toby and Maddie!)

Brenda was a faithful friend and engaged herself fully with the churches and communities she lived in. She was an amazing correspondent, keeping up with hand-written letters to the many friends they made as they lived throughout the country.  While the military life often took her away from friends and loved ones, she never missed a birthday card!

She is survived by her husband Jeff Knight and three daughters Carrie Knight, Jacci Roberts and Katie Ritter; by her sisters Barbie Boughner and Bonnie Hiller; and her six grandchildren Ashton Ritter, Rowdy Abba, Clayton Ritter, Bristol Knight, Cyrus and Colin Roberts.

Brenda’s funeral service will be held at Walloon Lake Community Church on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Jeff Ellis will officiate. There will be a visitation prior to the service from 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

Friends and family wishing to make a charitable donation in Brenda’s memory are asked to please consider the Petoskey Pregnancy Care Center (2206 Mitchell Park Drive, # 9, Petoskey, MI 49770).

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