Jan. 9, 1930 - Jun. 9, 2026
Date of Service: Jun. 18, 2026
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HEYBURN – Alta M. Knopp Renz Ketterling, age 96, of Heyburn, passed away June 9, 2026, at her home in Heyburn.
Alta Mae was born in Paul, Idaho, to Adolph Knopp and Leopoldina “Dena” (Schnabel) Knopp on January 9, 1930. She was raised in the Paul area on a farm along with her two brothers, Ron and Bill and her two sisters, Elaine and Barbara. She attended schools in Rupert, Paul, Pioneer and Rupert High School.
Alta married Jake Renz in June of 1948. They had three children Steve, Jeanne, and Tammy. After her children were older, she worked in the Paul School Lunch program for three years. She then worked for Hinz Jewelry for five years and Jensen Jewelers until her retirement.
She and Jake spent two years going to Arizona where he passed away in January 1992. She stayed busy with her church and the American Legion Auxiliary. She also did some traveling when she had a chance.
In November of 1994 she married Elmer Ketterling. They spent 21 winters in Yuma, Arizona until 2015 when they decided to stay home because of failing health.
Alta is survived by her son, Steve (Debi) Renz, of Lava Hot Springs, her two daughters, Jeanne (Frank) Jensen, of Heyburn, and Tammy (Larry) Dessel, of Paul; one sister, Elaine Magee, of Vacaville, CA., and one brother, Bill Knopp of Burley; nine grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter; her stepson, Lynn (Jeanne) Ketterling, of Nampa, ID, two stepdaughters, Judy (Mike) Mathison, of Orofino, ID, and Cindy (Larry) Goffinet, Rupert, ID; along with several step-grandchildren; and step great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Adolph and Dena Knopp; her first husband, Jake Renz; her second husband, Elmer Ketterling; her brother, Ron Knopp, two sisters-in-law, Betty Knopp, and Barbara Allen; four brothers-in-law, Ken Magee, Gerald Allen, Bob Renz, and Jerry Renz; one grandson, Casey Dessel; and a step-granddaughter, La Jean Ketterling.
The funeral will be held at 2p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Paul Congregational Church, located at 121 N. 2nd W. Street, in Paul, with Larry Dessel officiating. Burial will follow at Paul Cemetery.
Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Hansen Mortuary, located at 710 6th Street, in Rupert, and from 1 until 1:45p.m. Thursday prior to the service at the church.
A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/NZtsARiAM7Y.
