Stuart Edward Knapp

1928 - 2013

Stuart Edward Knapp, 84, died in Bozeman on May 25, 2013. He is survived by his two sons, Karl (Luisa) of New York, N.Y., and Paul of Greensboro, N.C.; and five grandchildren, Haley, Reid, Hugh, Honor and Scarlett. Memorial services will be held on June 19, 2013, at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Bozeman, at 2 p.m.

Stuart was born the youngest of three brothers to Samuel and Sarah Knapp on Aug. 23, 1928, in Monroe, Wash., and grew up in Snohomish, Wash., graduating from Snohomish High School in 1946, where he played varsity football and was an Eagle Scout. Stuart went on to receive both bachelors and masters degrees in biology from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., from which he graduated in 1951. Stuart also received a second master's degree in biology from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, in 1953 and a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., in 1958. From 1954 to 1956, Stuart served as an officer in the U.S. Army, 4th Army Area Medical Laboratory, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Stuart married a fellow classmate at Pacific University, Beverly Henson, on Aug. 19, 1951, to whom he remained married until her death on March 25, 2010.

After graduating from Kansas State University, Stuart spent nearly 20 years at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore., in a variety of different roles, including associate and full professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine; Director of the University Honors Program and Dean of Undergraduate Studies. In 1978, Stuart moved to Montana State University in Bozeman, first as Vice-President for Academic Affairs and then in several different capacities until his retirement in 1999, including Acting President of the University; Professor, Veterinary Molecular Biology; Interim Dean for the College of Agriculture and Director of the Montana Agricultural Experimentation Station. Stuart also served as the Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs for the Montana State University System from 1996 to 1998.

In recognition of his lifetime of scholarship and many academic contributions, Stuart received the Pacific University Distinguished Alumni Award, the Montana State University Blue-and-Gold Award and the University Honors Program at Montana State University Distinguished Service Award. Stuart was a member of the Bicentennial Committee and Board of Directors of the Lewis and Clark Foundation as well as a member of the Yellowstone Association Board of Trustees and Director of the Montana Committee for Humanities.

Stuart was an avid reader and collector of rare books, especially writers of the American West, including the works of Wallace Stegner and Stewart Holbrook. He also traveled extensively and loved skiing, birding and fly-fishing. Stuart will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather, as well as a scholar and an educator with an enormous passion for teaching and learning.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the University Honors Program at Montana State University, P.O. Box 172140, Bozeman, MT, 59717.

Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service, www.dokkennelson.com.