Erna Knight , 98, Minot, died Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in a Minot care center.

Erna was born September 6, 1912, in Oriska, ND, the daughter of Walter and Augusta (Wolter) Appel. She moved with her family at an early age to Glenburn, ND. Erna received her education in a country school located in Tatman Township of Ward County, ND and later attended Minot High School.

As a young adult, she was employed in Minot as an office clerk for Dr. Hartl for a couple of years. Erna was united in marriage to Lyle Knight on September 2, 1934, in Minot, where they settled to raise their family.

Together, with business partner, Willis Ott, they owned and operated Purity Dairy from 1947 until retiring from the business in 1970. Lyle passed away in April 1982.

In retirement, she remained active as a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church and as a member of a homemaker's group in Tatman Township. Erna enjoyed playing bridge, reading, gardening and traveling.

Her loving family includes: daughter, Shirley K. Brakefield, Hummelstown, PA; grandsons, Scott (Andrea) Brakefield, Oklahoma City, OK and Gregory (Yumi) Brakefield, Tokyo, Japan; great-grandsons, Christian and Tommy; sister-in-law, Hazel Appel, Roundrock, TX; nieces, Donna (Vern) Stevick, Karen (Lawrence) Shaffner, JoAnn (Milton) Gulbrunson, all of Minot, Lavonne Gavett, Portland, OR, and Carol (Donald) Goff, Sacramento, CA and nephews, James (Joyce) Keyes, Minot, Ronald (CeeCee) Keyes, Vancouver, WA, Arnold (Monika) Appel, Folsom, CA, Lawrence (Cheryl) Appel, Gig Harbor, WA, and Walter Appel, Round Rock, TX.

Erna was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Lyle, sons, Kenneth and Robert Knight, sister, Bertha Tangen and brothers, Daniel, Harry, Arnold and Lawrence Appel.

Funeral service: 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2011, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.
Visitation: Wednesday, April 13, 2011, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot, ND.
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to St. Mark's Lutheran Church Building Fund.