Judie Keller

Judie Edna (Kaehler) Keller, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend (of everyone she met) gently and quietly passed to join her husband William (Bill) on October 18, 2017.   Judie shed a single tear as she passed on to be reunited with Bill and God in the loving arms of her children, Lori and Jeff. The celebration of Judie Keller’s life includes visitation from 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm Monday, October 23, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Services will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, October 24, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 106 Osage Ave., Bismarck, with Rev. Craig A. Schweitzer officiating. Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Born in Beulah, ND, on September 21, 1944, to Edna Schekorsky Kaehler and Dan Kaehler. Judie was the only child of Edna Kaehler Bartole. Judie had a very unique relationship as the only child of the Schekorsky family: Edna’s sister Leonora (and Tony) Kuntz and brother, Albert (and Tena) Schekorsky. She remained the central connection of the family throughout their lives. Celebration of Judie’s life is a celebration of family. “Good Morning, Good Shepherd” was the familiar reception voice of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for 42 years, serving with 17 Pastors from Pastor Lynne to Pastor Schweitzer. Judie was passionately dedicated to service of the church members, committees and boards and this endeared church family brought her great fulfillment and daily joy. Celebration of Judie’s life is a celebration of family. Judie married her high school sweetheart Bill on October 10, 1963, at Faith Lutheran Church in Bismarck. Judie was his best friend, his greatest supporter and the best partner a man could ask for. Judie and Bill have two children, Lori and Jeff; with great love and eternal support their family flourished and grew to extend well beyond their home. Judie selflessly and affectionately created deep caring relationships with her friends, especially Margie Anderson. Judie greeted her children’s friends as a loving and caring “second mom”. And most profoundly, Judie was always there as the family grew to include spouses, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, simply with an attentive ear, a shoulder to cry on or a batch of rice crispy bars, brownies or “Keller spaghetti”. Judie enjoyed simple family pleasures: a weekly vigil of getting a Dairy Queen and driving down to “the bottoms” with Margie and Frank Anderson, hanging out with the Fast Pitch Softball team families, the annual family Christmas (and pinochle) party, fixing hair and doing nails with “the girls” (over three generations), camping in the bottoms with friends Skip and Elaine Balzer, sitting in her chair with her beloved puppy, Charlie, and watching TV, going on casino trips with Dakota Community Bank Good Neighbor Club friends, and most importantly anytime family gathered for weddings, childbirths, birthdays and holidays. Welcoming selflessness, genuine caring and constant assurance most define Judie’s relationship with her immediate and extended family. Daughter Lori Balzer and husband Gene, son Jeff Keller and wife Shana, grandchildren Ryne Balzer and wife A’lyce (great granddaughter Addison), Amanda Keller Gardiner and husband Luke (great-grandchildren Ava and Jace), Michael Balzer and fiancé Kylie Bowers, Sara Keller, and many nieces and nephews. The family wants to recognize Pastor Craig of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the doctors and nurses of CHI St. Alexis Emergency Room/Stroke Team and Abbott Northwestern Hospital for caring and comforting care. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.