IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Richard L
Keats
September 16, 1929 – September 9, 2013
Obituary
Richard Keats, 83, Belle Fourche, SD died Monday, September 9, 2013 at Sunpointe Assisted living in Belle Fourche.
Richard was born on Sept. 16, 1929 in McClure, SD. This area is now covered by Oahe Dam. He was the youngest of ten children, eight girls and two boys. His mother was Mattie Ethel (Stephenson) Keats, his father was Bert Keats. Richard had to wait until he was seven to go to school, because his dad said "he shouldn't walk the 5-6 miles to school", he told Richard that he was too "scrawny". He had a bobbed tail dog named Bob, while he was growing up. They moved about ten miles NE of DeSmet, SD and this is where he went to country school for eight years. He then moved to Mitchell, SD to live with his sister, and went to school in Artesian. He set a record playing football there and graduated in 1949. He used to travel with his folks and siblings in the Model T, his dad would have to back up any hills because there was more power in reverse than in low gear.
He worked with his dad farming by DeSmet, and then farmed near Artesian. He moved to Spearfish in 1952 to work for Homestake Lumber Mill, Homestake was bought out in 1966 by Pope and Talbot. The summer of 1954 he started working at the Passion Play, he enjoyed working there as a parking attendant, he worked there every summer until 2003. He retired from Pope and Talbot in 1996.
Richard's hobbies and interests involve all that is western books and movies. He rode and broke many horses, and went to rodeos all of his life. He also enjoyed deer hunting. Richard married Mary on May 19, 1990 in Spearfish, SD. They had been married for 23 years. In 2003 Richard and Mary moved to Belle Fourche, SD. The past four years he lived at the Sunpointe Assisted Living Facility, where he enjoyed playing cards, doing word puzzles, walking and the company of other residents.
Survivors include his wife Mary, Belle Fourche, children; Richard Keats, Choteau, MT, Cathy Richards, Gillette, WY, Pam Grier, Las Vegas, NV, Susan Anglada, Bellingham, WA, Mattie Tope, Belle Fourche, two sisters, Veinice Vester, Beatrice Killian, six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Per Richard's request, a private family service will held at a later date.
Richard was born on Sept. 16, 1929 in McClure, SD. This area is now covered by Oahe Dam. He was the youngest of ten children, eight girls and two boys. His mother was Mattie Ethel (Stephenson) Keats, his father was Bert Keats. Richard had to wait until he was seven to go to school, because his dad said "he shouldn't walk the 5-6 miles to school", he told Richard that he was too "scrawny". He had a bobbed tail dog named Bob, while he was growing up. They moved about ten miles NE of DeSmet, SD and this is where he went to country school for eight years. He then moved to Mitchell, SD to live with his sister, and went to school in Artesian. He set a record playing football there and graduated in 1949. He used to travel with his folks and siblings in the Model T, his dad would have to back up any hills because there was more power in reverse than in low gear.
He worked with his dad farming by DeSmet, and then farmed near Artesian. He moved to Spearfish in 1952 to work for Homestake Lumber Mill, Homestake was bought out in 1966 by Pope and Talbot. The summer of 1954 he started working at the Passion Play, he enjoyed working there as a parking attendant, he worked there every summer until 2003. He retired from Pope and Talbot in 1996.
Richard's hobbies and interests involve all that is western books and movies. He rode and broke many horses, and went to rodeos all of his life. He also enjoyed deer hunting. Richard married Mary on May 19, 1990 in Spearfish, SD. They had been married for 23 years. In 2003 Richard and Mary moved to Belle Fourche, SD. The past four years he lived at the Sunpointe Assisted Living Facility, where he enjoyed playing cards, doing word puzzles, walking and the company of other residents.
Survivors include his wife Mary, Belle Fourche, children; Richard Keats, Choteau, MT, Cathy Richards, Gillette, WY, Pam Grier, Las Vegas, NV, Susan Anglada, Bellingham, WA, Mattie Tope, Belle Fourche, two sisters, Veinice Vester, Beatrice Killian, six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Per Richard's request, a private family service will held at a later date.
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