Richard "Rick" Lynn McKnight

Richard “Rick” Lynn McKnight, 76 of Chouteau, Oklahoma, passed away on Tuesday, February 18th, 2020 at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was born January 9th, 1944 in Los Angeles, California. He was the son of C. H. McKnight and Mary Harmon McKnight. Rick married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Jo Webb, on August 18th, 1964. They lived in California, and Rick provided for his family for many years working as an arc welder. Together they had four children, two boys and two girls. In 1967, Rick moved his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma and from there he worked for Telex Corp. as an arc welder. 

Rick was saved as a young boy and was ordained at Lakeview Heights Southern Baptist Church and preached off and on since 1970. As an enthusiastic young man, he got into singing and entertaining in several different clubs in California. This led his life many different directions, and he even met several famous people throughout his music career.  His grandmother, Esta Curtis, played a big role in his life, and she meant the world to him. She taught him his Pentecostal values, and after she passed away, he rededicated his life and started his calling and in 1974 attended Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in the Charter class and graduated in 1975 with a diploma in Ministry.

Rick pastored Abundant Life Fellowship in Inola, Oklahoma from 1979 through 1980. He went to Peterborough, Canada and established Shiloh Word Fellowship in August 1993, where he remained until May 1997. He then pastored a church in Ashdown, Arkansas in 2006.

Rick was ordained by, taught by, and traveled with Kenneth E Hagin. He was also ordained by Elizabeth Pruitt-Sloan Ministries, H. I. M., and Billye Brimm Ministries. Rick had the privilege of meeting Fred Price, John Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, and Norvel Hayes. Rick loved to travel, teach, sing, and minister with the Full Gospel Businessmen, different bible schools, churches, and camp meetings. In his spare time, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren - and one must not forget his sweet “DoxyPoo” dog, Penny, that would sit for hours in his lap and enjoy all the attention that Rick would give her. Rick would also travel with his family on weekends, holidays, and any other time they could. Rick traveled to the islands of New Zealand and Australia, as well as Ukraine and Guatemala.

In 2013, Rick's life changed as he lost his high school sweetheart “Bonnie” to cancer. Rick continued his fight of faith, still singing, preaching, and telling how awesome his God is.

In 2017, Rick reunited with a precious family friend, Rallene Almendarez. Rick and his wife Bonnie had been friends with Rallene and her husband Angel since 1975. The couples ministered together in Canada in the late 1980s. 

Even after both spouses had passed away, Rick and Rallene continued to be friends, and in 2017 God put together an amazing love between the two of them. On June 1st, 2018, at Word Fellowship, in Chouteau, Oklahoma, Rallene and Rick were united in marriage, which brought them 20 wonderful months of everlasting love and continuous friendship. Rick was a very blessed man, for God gave him two special ladies at two different seasons in his life! 

Rick‘s brother Jim McKnight made the comment that “Rick fought a good fight, he kept the faith! There were four of us boys in the McKnight family; while I love my brothers the same, Rick and I had the most in common and spent the most time together. We surrendered to the ministry together in the 70’s. Memories are of God. We were ordained together in 1972 and we attended Rhema Bible College together in 1975. We ministered together for five years as the H.I.S. Band. Rick loved singing doo-wop and secular songs at church functions such as Valentine’s, summer retreats, etc.” 

Mrs. Oretha Hagin always told Rick he needed to write a book called “From the Night Clubs to the Pulpit” because he went from singing and entertaining in the night clubs to preaching and singing in the churches. 

Rick recorded his first album in 1976 called “Free Indeed” These words have never been more fitting than now - he is definitely “Free Indeed”!

A celebration of Rick’s life will be held at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, at A Glorious Church Fellowship in Collinsville, Oklahoma, with Pastor Lee Morgan officiating and Pastor Mark Johnson reading the obituary.

Rick is survived by his wife, Rallene, of the home in Chouteau, Oklahoma; his two sons, Richard McKnight of Prattville, Oklahoma. and Johnny-Wayne McKnight of Griffin, Georgia; his two daughters, Kara Smith and husband Curtis of Copan, Oklahoma and Tanya McKnight of Griffin, Georgia; his brother, Jim McKnight and wife Pamela of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; his sister-in-law, Kay McKnight, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; and his two stepchildren, Joey Almendarez and wife Janet of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Angela Day of Pryor, Oklahoma. 10 grandchildren; 8 step-grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 22 step-great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-granddaughter, Pearl Violet; and many other relatives and friends also survive him.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, C. H. And Mary McKnight; and two brothers, Johnny McKnight and Larry McKnight.

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