Megan Knowles, 46

Megan Cummings Knowles, 46, of Sandpoint, Idaho, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. She remained remarkably strong through the very end. 

Megan was born November 13, 1979, in Spokane, Wash., to Bob and Marian Cummings. She grew up in Spokane, attended Ferris High School, and distinguished herself early as an exceptional athlete, student and competitor. 

Soccer became one of the defining passions of Megan’s life and eventually took her to the University of Idaho. As a Vandal, she became one of the most accomplished players in the history of Idaho women’s soccer. A three-time All-Big West selection, she remains among the program’s all-time leaders in points, assists, goals and game-winning goals. Megan excelled in the classroom as well, earning multiple academic honors while completing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2003. 

In 2026, Megan was selected for induction into the University of Idaho Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame, a fitting recognition of her remarkable career and the legacy she left on the soccer field. 

The University of Idaho also brought Megan and Ryan Knowles together. Their friend Sam introduced them while Ryan was playing football and Megan was playing soccer. Ryan proposed on Baldy Mountain in 2003, and they married on July 24, 2004. Early in their marriage they lived in Issaquah, Wash., Moscow, Idaho, and Hamilton, N.Y., before eventually returning west and making Sandpoint their home. 

At the center of the life Megan and Ryan built together were their children, Aubrey and Drew. Megan was a devoted mother who adored her kids and took tremendous pride in them. She was intentional about raising them to become confident, capable, independent people — to trust themselves, make their own decisions and find their own way in the world. In many ways, she was passing along the qualities that defined her. 

Megan was smart, driven, beautiful, athletic, fiercely independent and as tough as they come. She was also intensely pragmatic. She had an ability to size up a situation, make a decision and move forward without second-guessing herself. Once Megan made up her mind, she owned the decision and lived with it. She handled difficult things privately and rarely asked others to carry what she could carry herself. 

She brought that same capability and dependability to a 23-year career at Accenture, where she most recently served as an HR Business Partner and was recently promoted to Managing Director of HR North America. Megan was highly respected professionally and genuinely adored by the people who worked with her. 

She also had an extraordinary ability to build friendships and keep them. Her life was filled with people from every chapter — high school friends, soccer teammates, college friends, coworkers, many coaching staff wives and the best of friends she made in Sandpoint. These were not passing friendships. Many lasted for decades, a reflection of the loyalty Megan gave to the people she cared about. 

Megan loved her family, soccer, football, and cats. She loved supporting Ryan, being there for Aubrey and Drew, and sharing life with the many people who became part of her world. She accomplished an extraordinary amount, but the people she loved were always at the center of it. 

Megan is survived by her husband, Ryan Knowles; her children, Aubrey and Drew; her parents, Bob and Marian Cummings; her sister, Julie Birashk; her mother-in-law, Janice Knowles; and her Oma Carla Peperzak.  She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, John Knowles. 

The void Megan leaves is enormous, but so is the life she built around her - the family she loved, the friendships she nurtured, the people she influenced, and the example of strength and independence she leaves for Aubrey and Drew. 

A celebration of Megan’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Green Acres, George and Debbie Hanson’s house, 1875 Lakeshore Drive, Sagle, Idaho.

We have also set up an endowment at the University of Idaho. This is a forever gift to Megan's legacy. Please click on the link — giving.uidaho.edu/campaigns/megan-cummings-knowles-soccer-endowment — and read about more about Megan. It is all remarkable. Donate if you are willing and able.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Megan’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.