Monte Eric Knepper, 77, of Spanish Fork, died August 4, 2026, at Stonehenge of Orem from complications of Lewy Body Dementia. A visitation will be held Monday, August 10, from 6-8 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, Spanish Fork, UT. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1850 S 2300 E, Spanish Fork. A visitation with the family will take place from 9:45-10:45 a.m., and military rites by the American Legion will follow the funeral service at Spanish Fork Cemetery.
Monte was born May 6, 1949, in Saint Paul, MN, the eldest child of Bill G. and Lorraine E. Knepper. He moved with them to Sioux City, IA, in 1951. He graduated from Sioux City’s Central High School in 1967. He graduated from Morningside College in 1970 with a BA in English and earned his master’s in English from the University of Illinois-Carbondale in 1971.
Monte served in the U. S. Navy Reserve and active duty Navy and was stationed in San Diego, Long Beach, CA, and in the Philippines and Vietnam in the Vietnam War. He worked a number of civilian jobs before returning to the U. S. Army Reserve in Fremont, NE, and entered active duty November 7, 1982, serving at Ft. Devens, MA, Saint Louis, MO, The Pentagon, Pittsburgh, PA, and Fort McCoy, WI. Monte completed the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, TX in 1999 and retired a Sergeant Major in Saint Louis, MO on December 31, 2002.
Monte and Becki (Ainge) married in Spanish Fork on June 16, 2001, surrounded by their parents, children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in July 2003 and was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on July 20, 2004. They retired to Dakota Dunes, SD in November 2002 and later moved to Spanish Fork, UT in 2012.
Monte enjoyed literature, art, and music of all kinds and especially enjoyed performing barbershop music in different groups around the country over the years, but especially The Discovery Chorus in Dakota Dunes and The Four Decades Quartet in Spanish Fork. He enjoyed the years he spent participating in Toastmasters of Provo. Monte loved watching Morningside Women’s basketball games and was BYU sports’ greatest non-alumni fan. He enjoyed hiking, touring caves, and especially loved spending time in the Black Hills of South Dakota, as his parents did before him. He was a proud finisher of the Marine Corps Marathon. Monte deeply treasured all time spent with his children and grandchildren. He adored and enchanted all children wherever he encountered them.
Monte had several church callings: he was a faithful Home Teacher/Ministering, Primary Teacher, Cub Scout Master and Temple Worker.
Among those who will cherish memories of Monte are wife, Becki Knepper along with four daughters, one son and their spouses, Heather (and Eric) Lyman, Corinna (and Andrew) Troth, Sarah Fury, Robin Knepper, Gretchen (and Bradley) Creviston, his treasured grandchildren and their spouses: Bailey (and Olivia) DeLaRosa-Troth, Janie (and Nate) Stagg, Sam Lyman, Abbi Ainge, Justin Troth, Kate Lyman, Jordyn (and Jeremy) Aybar, Will Lyman and Joe Lyman, Monte’s brother Dana Knepper (and Cindy Stadler), sister Laura Switzer, Becki’s brothers, sisters and their spouses, many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, and his devoted dog, Emma and Felix the Cat.
Monte was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Lorraine Knepper, parents-in-law Lloyd and Lucile Ainge, brother John Knepper, and brother in-law, Ron Switzer.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Monte’s honor to Morningside University, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Missionary Fund or The Alzheimer’s Association.
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