Robert Keller

Bismarck resident, Robert W. “Bob Hope” Keller, 70, died Friday, January 27, 2017. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31, at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 1470 S Washington St., Bismarck, with Rev. Dave Swonger officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm -7:00 pm, Monday, January 30, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E. Divide Ave., Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at 1:00 pm Tuesday at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Bob was born April 27, 1946, in Bismarck to Willie and Clara (Heihn) Keller. He graduated from Bismarck High School in 1964 and then served in the US Air Force for 4 years. On July 18, 1971, he married Hope Tranby at House of Prayer Lutheran Church. Bob had many learning opportunities in his life. He installed and maintained x-ray equipment, started his own handyman service in the late 70’s, did equipment removal for FAA and ended up being a machinist. Bob would give the shirt off his back and the food out of his mouth to homeless people, dogs and especially cats. He loved mentoring kids for Science Olympiad and Robotics and was especially proud of mentoring Logan McCleary who is now a mentor himself. Bob is survived by his wife, Hope; sisters, Lucille Harju of Pennsylvania, Donna Carufel of Bismarck, Carol Mehlhoff of North Carolina, Judi (Richard) Fockler of Bismarck; mother-in-law, Ann Tranby of Bismarck; sister-in-law, Joy (Leo) Renner of Garrison, brother-in-law, Stanley (Char) Tranby of Minot; sister-in-law, Faith (Darwin) Brekhus of Minnesota; “grandchildren” Bethany and Logan McCleary of Bismarck; aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins; special friends, Kris and Rebecca Lengenfelder of Bismarck, Tammy and Vince McCleary of Lincoln, Boris and Cheryl Miller of Bismarck, and Kate and Justin Brown of Atlanta; also survived by his beloved dog, Dygger and cats, Sunye and Stynker. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lorraine Galagher, Phyllis Connolly, Doris Tidball, Arlane Kennison, Marilyn Schuette, Elizabeth Fockler, and Ramona Meidinger; his father-in-law, Trygve Tranby; two nephews. “Bob Hope” gives a special thank you to Deland Galster for taking care of the yard in the summer and snow blowing in the winter so they were able to get to their doctors’ appointments.