Jacquoline "Jackie" Knighten

1937 - 2025

Jacquoline "Jackie" Knighten

November 4, 1937 - June 28, 2025

Kennewick, Washington - Jackie Knighten, longtime resident of Kennewick, passed away after a brief illness on June 28. She was 87 years old.

Jackie was born Jacquoline Marie Reitan in Boise, Idaho, to Jack and Jean Reitan on November 4, 1937. Her birth was followed two days later by the birth of her best friend and cousin, Patricia Harmon. The two were practically inseparable the rest of their lives. Her sister, Judy, joined the family four years later and her mother remarried in 1948 to Kenneth Graham, also of Boise. In 1949, sister Kathy joined the family and the need for work took them to their new home in Moses Lake, WA.

She graduated from Moses Lake Highschool in 1955 and continued her education at the newly-founded Columbia Basin College when it was located in an old Army barracks in Pasco, WA. Jackie was a cheerleader during her time there, and it is also where she met her future husband, Neal F. Knighten of Kennewick. Jackie and Neal married in 1957 and made there home in Kennewick, where she resided at the time of her death. She served her community in many ways by volunteering her time with Dial Help as well as making daily calls to elderly shut-ins to check on how they were doing. Jackie was employed as a book keeper at the Royal Columbian in Kennewick for many years before her retirement.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Neal, her son, Steve Knighten, and her foster daughter, Ramona Ahto. She is survived by her son, Michael Knighten of Arch Cape, OR, daughter-in-law, Doris Knighten of Kennewick, and her "bonus" daughter, Elizabeth Santiago and her family. Several grandchildren and great-grandchildren are among those she leaves behind. Others who survive her are her nine siblings, Judy Burns of Moses Lake, WA, Kathy Nuckolls of Richland, WA, Jim Reitan of Furth, Germany, Ed Reitan of North Dakota, Elen Atteberry of Dayton, WA, Barbara LeBlanc of North Bend, WA, Bill Reitan of Kennewick, WA, Diana Carter of Elgin, OK, and Christine Pixler of Kennewick, WA.

Services will take place on Wednesday, July 9, with a brief viewing at Mueller's Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union St., beginning at 9:00 am. Graveside service, officiated by Rev. Matthew Keith of Kennewick First Christian Church will follow at 11:00 am at Desert Lawn Memorial Park. Following interment, family and friends will gather at the Knighten residence, 207207 E. 10th Ave, for a time of fellowship and a celebration of life. Arrangements are in the care of Mueller's Funeral Home.