Mitsuko Knight
March 11, 1930 - October 6, 2026
To understand the depth of Mitzi’s spirit, we have to look back to where her story began. She was born on March 11, 1930, in Hokkaido, Japan to Mitsugi and Yone Kanno —the third of eight children. Growing up in a place known for its harsh, snowy winters but also its breathtaking, resilient beauty, it was there that she grew into the strong woman we all knew.
In 1953, she married Herman Conley Knight, known affectionately to everyone as Con, an Army Master Sergeant serving in the Korean War. Choosing love meant choosing a path into the unknown and a year later, she stepped off a ship and landed in this country. Imagine the immense bravery it took for a young woman from Hokkaido to cross an ocean, leaving behind her language, her family, and her culture to build a brand-new life from scratch. She arrived with little more than her love for Con and the radiant spirit inside her. Together, they welcomed two beautiful children who became her entire world: Linda Joyce and Richard Duane, whom we all know as Duane. After traveling across the country with the Army, Con retired in 1964 and they settled in Rich Hill Missouri to be near Con’s mother, Pearl Bland.
But life brings unexpected storms. Just two years after making Rich Hill their home, tragedy struck. On March 26, 1966, Con passed away in a car accident. Suddenly, Mitzi found herself a young widow in a foreign country, raising two young children on her own.
There is a famous Japanese proverb that Mitzi absolutely loved and lived by: “Fall down seven times, stand up eight” (Nanakorobi Yaoki). Life had just knocked her down in the most painful way possible, but true to that saying, Mitzi got right back up. She did not break. Her birth name, Mitsuko, means 'Child of Light'—and she chose to shine brighter.
To support her family, she worked at Key Industries in Nevada and after her retirement, Unique Optical Case Company in Rich Hill.
Life blessed Mitzi with a beautiful second act when she met her longtime partner and the true love of her life, Warren Wheatley. Sadly, she faced the heavy heartbreak of losing Warren unexpectedly in 1996. Life knocked her down once more, and once more she stood back up. The love they built stayed with her always, a cherished and permanent part of her life.
Through every triumph and every heartache, Mitzi's greatest joy remained the family that blossomed around her.
She was an absolutely amazing grandma. She was the definition of an active, adventurous spirit. She wasn't the kind of grandma to just sit on the sidelines and watch. If her grandkids were outside, so was she. Even as the years passed, you could find her jumping rope, swinging on the swings, and going right down the slides alongside them. She possessed a rare, youthful magic that made every single child feel completely cherished, eventually becoming the proud matriarch to 8 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Her house was home base for many 4th of July family reunions.
Mitzi has many friends, was active in the community, and truly knew how to live life to the fullest. She loved gardening and was incredibly skilled at it; she could take a clipping from absolutely anywhere and successfully propagate it into a thriving, beautiful plant. Her legacy blooms all across this town, rooted in her time as a founding member of the Rich Hill Garden Club, known today as Ready, Set, Grow.
She was a cherished regular at Dirty Bingo at the Kern Center, bringing laughter wherever she went. She was a massive Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan, always ready to cheer on her teams. At home, she loved her puzzles and always had one laid out, meticulously putting the pieces together. And back in the mid 1970s to 1980s, she was even a certified pool shark, proudly winning many trophies at the table.
Beyond her endless talents, Mitzi was a total fashionista. She turned heads wherever she went, always looking sharp, polished, and effortlessly cool. She had a unique, unforgettable sense of style, and one of her legendary signature looks included leather pants paired with high heel boots, beautiful jewelry, and perfectly painted nails. She carried herself with an unmistakable confidence and flair.
She has been described by many as sweet, but she was also quick-witted and famously, wonderfully ornery. She had a spark that couldn't be dimmed and she genuinely loved everyone she met and everyone loved her right back.
The courage she showed to cross an ocean, the devotion she showed to protect her children and care for her family, the immense love she shared with Warren, and the joyful, vibrant spirit she gave to Rich Hill laid the foundation for the beautiful family standing here today. We are her legacy. She proved to all of us that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you always find the strength to stand up again. The light she brought across the ocean, and kept burning through every storm, every hard day at work, every garden bloom, and every playground laugh, will never go out.
Proceeded in death by her parents, Mitsugi and Yone Kanno, 4 brothers and 3 sisters, Husband Herman Conley Knight, partner Warren Wheatley, step-grandson Scott Moody and grandson Macauly Crane.
She is survived by her children Linda Crane (Brett) and Duane Knight (Jools), stepchildren Kenneth Knight, Sharon Gilmore, Janet Richter, 11 step-grandchildren, 7 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions to Kern Center and Ready, Set Grow in Rich Hill, Missouri.
Visitation: Friday, October 15, 2026 5pm-7pm
Funeral Service: Saturday, October 16, 2026 11:00-12:00pm
Private Internment: Green Lawn Cemetery Rich Hill, Missouri
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