Fred Knief

Fred Eric Knief, 80, longtime area farmer, died at Shawn Manor nursing home early Saturday morning, Oct. 26, 2013, following a lengthy illness.
Fred was born Jan. 14, 1933, on the family farm in Kay County. He was the eldest son of the late Louis Christian Knief and his wife, Beatrice Emma Robbins Knief.
He is survived by one brother, Louis Cecil of Peoria, Ill. and one sister, Fern Smith of Ponca City a brotherinlaw four nieces and two nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Wilma Smith.
Fred was a lifelong resident of the Salt Fork community on the family farm located two and one half miles east of the old 101 Ranch headquarters, between Ponca City and Marland, route number four. He was employed as a farmer on the family farm with his father. He also did custom hay field work in the Ponca City area. He was a skilled mechanic who maintained the farm equipment with which he worked. He was ready to greet people with a friendly smile and a hug for the members of his family.
He was also a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church, where he was baptized as an infant in 1933 and was confirmed as a young adult in 1949. His family wishes to thank the staff and nurses of Shawn Manor and Hospice for their care and kindness during his stay there.
A funeral will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m., at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Jeremy May officiating. Visitation will be held 67:30 p.m. Friday at Grace Memorial Chapel. Burial will be held in Riverside Cemetery of Ralston, under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, Ponca City, 1101 N. Fourth, Ponca City, OK 74601.