Ruth, daughter of Erdman and Lydia Schilke, was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan on March 14, 1944, and died peacefully on March 23, 2010 after a short battle with returning cancer. While a young child she lived with her parents and brother Edward on a farm at Rhein, SK, and in 1952 they moved to a farm near Swan River, Manitoba. It was here that she received most of her schooling, first at a rural one-room school and later in Swan River Collegiate. She loved school and took further training to become a teacher herself. She taught Business Education at Swan River Collegiate, Carman Collegiate, Westwood Collegiate, John Taylor Collegiate and Niverville Collegiate, and was librarian in Niverville Elementary School for 31 years. She met her future husband Harry McKnight when they both taught at the Swan River Collegiate; they were married on June 30, 1967 and enjoyed nearly 43 years of wedded happiness. Ruth is survived by her husband Harry, her daughter Melody and Ron Clark (Ronnie and James), her daughter Lorrita and Jesse Carrie, her brother Edward and Sharon Schilke (Gloria, Arlene, Earl and Reuben and their families) and her Aunt Kay Schilke and family. Also mourning her loss is Harry’s family: sisters Annie (Les) Scharf, Rose Koval, and brother William (Joyce), two brothers-in-law John Dyck and Alf Emms, along with numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held in Word of Life Mission Church, 233 3rd St. S., Niverville on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., with viewing prior to the service. Interment at a later date. In lieu of flowers, if friends and family so desire donations to Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook Street; Wpg., MB R3C 2B7 or any other charity would be greatly appreciated.