Dennis “Denny” Dean Knapp passed away at his home in East Helena, Montana on August 4, 2024. Denny was born in Butte, Montana on July 23,1954 to parents Kenneth “Kenny” Gail and Georgia Elizabeth (Bailey) Knapp. When Denny was 6 months old, the family moved to Billings, Montana where Kenny took a job with the Billings Gazette.
Denny and his three siblings grew up in Billings and enjoyed family activities together, hunting, fishing and camping. In 1954, with the collaboration of the Churches of Christ in Montana, Yellowstone Bible Camp was formed, and the Knapp family was actively involved from its inception and YBC became an important part of their lives.
Denny was enrolled in Western Christian College in 1970, completing high school and two years of college, staying on for an additional 2 years as a dorm monitor. In 1973, he transferred to Abilene Christian University and attended for a year, in which time he sang with the University’s public relationships group “Hilltoppers.” Denny was the group’s “John Denver,” playing Denver’s genre of music. Denny often noted that he sang with Ronnie Dunn (of Brooks and Dunn fame) who was in this group of Hilltoppers.
In the Summer of 1974, Denny took a job as camp counselor at Camp Hunt in upstate New York. During his time there, he was approached by Doug Edwards, Admission’s Director for Northeastern Christian Junior College who invited Denny to lead several public relations singing groups at the college. Denny accepted and moved to Villanova, Pennsylvania in fall of 1974. In his third year as director of “Sonrise” and “Inspiration”, he auditioned a new soprano, Karen Susek who became a member of Sonrise in 1977 and traveled with them that summer and the 1977-1978 academic year. The two were engaged by the end of the summer and married the following March 18, 1978. They had three children: Cody in 1979, Jerrett in 1982, and Courtney in 1985. The marriage ended in 2000.
Denny began his computer career as a third shift computer operator in Maryland. In 1981, he landed a job with Random House Publishing as the Data Base Manager and enjoyed working there until the family moved to Helena, Montana in 1992. Denny worked for the State of Montana, End User Support in the Department of Administration until his disability retirement in 1998. Health challenges plagued Denny most of his adult life. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1982 and became wheelchair bound in 1992. Sadly, MS robbed Denny from doing some of the activities he loved most: hunting and fishing.
Despite his health struggles, Denny always had music. Since learning guitar as a teenager, Denny loved making music. He sang in various groups as well as at church. While completing his bachelor’s degree at Abilene Christian University in Old Testament studies, friends from Northeastern Christian College and several locals formed a band, “Villanova.” In 1979, they auditioned for a USO tour and was chosen for a southern Mediterranean tour. Denny was also a dedicated song leader at several churches of Christ, using his wonderful tenor voice to lead congregations in worship. When his health kept him from serving in church, Denny dedicated himself to the online community of The Hills Church of Christ, watching their acapella services and contributing to online discussion.
One of the greatest joys in the later years of Denny’s life was being a grandfather to grandson Finn, 7, and granddaughter Imogen, 4. He cherished their phone calls and visits to Montana, including a family reunion that spanned four generations. Denny was always ready to share photos and videos of his grandchildren with family and stranger alike.
Denny was preceded in death by his parents Georgia and Kenny Knapp, brother Terry Knapp, and his son Cody Knapp. He is survived by his sister Kathy Knapp Schmidt, (Lyle), brother Jim Knapp (Alice), his son Jerrett Knapp, his daughter Courtney Walling (Taylor), and grandchildren Finn and Imogen Walling.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Richard Henson says
When I was a youngster, my older brother Robby hired Denny and his band to play at our house in the living Room. It was loud and lively. His main song he played several times was G L O R I A. It sounded almost like the original song. His voice matched the Artist too.