Henry Keller

Henry Keller, 93, Bismarck, died February 17, 2019, at St. Gabriel’s Community, Bismarck.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, February 23, at Peace Church, 410 Elm Ave., New Salem, ND, with Rev. Joshua F. Eddy officiating.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday, February 22, at St. Gabriel’s Community Chapel, 4580 Coleman St., Bismarck, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Burial will be at Peace Cemetery, New Salem.

Henry Keller was born on August 12, 1925, in New Salem, the son of Henry Keller Sr. and Mary (Lieb) Keller. Henry went to the local country school south of New Salem. He married Ruth Schneider on June 16, 1946. Henry was an active member of Peace Church, helping with the construction of the new church in 1950 and served on the church council. He was also a member of the Elks, Eagles and Moose Lodges.

Henry and Ruth made their home on a farmstead south of New Salem where they farmed and ranched.   Henry enjoyed watching his cattle and crops grow. Many hour were spent leaning on a corral rail watching his cattle eat. He was always ready to help a neighbor with calving problems or a broken piece of equipment.  Henry enjoyed doing custom combining and spraying for a lot of the neighbors and prided himself at being in the field before daylight and the first one seeding in the spring. Two of his favorite things on the farm were his collie dog (Queenie) and his horse (King). Henry and Ruth farmed together for 53 years, retiring in 1999. After retirement, they moved to Mandan and traveled with their 5^th wheel camper spending several winters in Yuma, AZ.

Henry took great pride in his family and looked forward to their visits. When his grandchildren and great grandchildren were around, he had a special twinkle in his eye. He loved to share stories about life on the farm. His start in farming as a boy was with horses and grew to modern day equipment. He liked to tell stories of those early years and always remarked at how things had changed.

Henry is survived by the love of his life of 72 years, Ruth; three children, Gary (Jean) Keller, Fargo, Linda Keller, New Salem, Leon (Cindy) Keller, Fergus Falls, MN; six grandchildren, Stacy, Jill, Michelle, Kristen, Emily, Easton; 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson; and brother, Leo (Jean) Keller, Bismarck.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mary Keller; four siblings, Florence, Elmer, Edna, Wilmer; and grandson Stuart Keller.