Ralph S. Knelly Ii

Ralph S. Knelly II, of Hummelstown and formerly of Shickshinny, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.  Born in Berwick on October 26, 1943, he was a son to the late Ralph S. and Elva H. (Benscoter) Knelly.

Mr. Knelly was a graduate of Berwick High School, Class of 1961, and continued his education at Central Penn Business School.  Ralph enjoyed a long career in bookkeeping and owned and operated Ralph Knelly Tax and Accounting in Bloomsburg.  He also studied at the Robet Packer School of Nursing and was an LPN.  Ralph was a model train enthusiast.  He operated R & R Hobbies and Trains in Bloomsburg and served for many years as treasurer of LOTS (Lionel Operating Train Society).  In his younger years, Ralph had been active with the Boy Scouts and enjoyed camping.  He was a life member of Shickshinny Volunteer Fire Co. and had been a member of the Huntington Valley and Millville Fire Companies, as well as the Luzerne County Fire Police Association.  Ralph was a member of Grace Chapel in Elizabethtown and of Robert Burns Lodge #464 F & AM.  He enjoyed time spent with his friends and his beloved family, by whom he will be greatly missed.

Surviving Ralph is his wife, Sandra A. Bertoldi.  Also surviving are his children: Jeffrey T. Kemp of Shickshinny and his girlfriend, Tammy Mowery, and Charles O. Knelly of Shickshinny; step-children: Michael Bertoldi, Jr. of Middletown, John Bertoldi of Mechanicsburg, Angela Messimer and husband, Anthony, of Steelton, and Daniel Bertoldi of Camp Hill; seven step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; sister, Cynthia Yerges and husband, Thomas, of Berwick; niece, Jessica Kerr and husband, Jeffrey, of Berwick, as well as their daughter, Emma; and nephew, Nathan Yerges.

In addition to his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Evelyn (Sult) Knelly, who passed away February 23, 2022, and his brother, Daniel Knelly.

Ralph’s funeral will be 1 PM Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at Kelchner, McMichael & Readler Funeral Home, Inc., 119-121 E. Third Street, Berwick, with Pastor Mel Weaver of Grace Chapel officiating.  Friends will be received from 10 AM until the time of Masonic Services at 12:45.  Interment at Rose Lawn Cemetery will follow.  Memorial contributions in his name may be made to Lionel Operating Train Society at Paula S. Smith, LOTS Business Office, 6376 West Fork Road, Cincinnati, OH 45247-5704.  The Kelchner, McMichael & Readler Funeral Home, Inc is honored to serve the Knelly family.  Online messages of comfort and support may be left at www.kelchnerfuneralhome.com.

Lionel Operating Train Society
Paula S. Smith, LOTS Business Office, 6376 West Fork Road, Cincinnati OH 45247-5704