September 6, 1940 - May 6, 2024
Roger Keith, age 83, of Algona, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Monday, May 6, 2024, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona. Visitation was Friday, May 10, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Faith Church. Memorial services were 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Faith Church in Algona, with burial following in Riverview Cemetery. Memorial services were livestreamed via Faith Church’s Facebook page. Services have been entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home of Algona.
Roger Lynn Keith, the son of Kyle and Clara (Corbett) Keith, was born on the family farm near Burt Sept. 6, 1940. He graduated from Algona High School in 1958. Roger then received a Bachelors of Animal Science Economics at South Dakota State University in 1962.
On Aug. 14, 1976, Roger was united in marriage with Sandra Kay Bird at the Burt Presbyterian Church.
Roger actively farmed, raised sheep, hogs, cattle and was a Dekalb Seed Dealer on the family farm until 1983. He then worked in the ASCS office until retiring in 2000, after which he thoroughly enjoyed driving tender truck for the local elevator.
In his early years Roger was a member of 4-H, FFA, and Drama in high school and college, later Burt Lions club, and he served on the board and was a longtime member at Faith Church and more recently Algona Senior Center, YMCA classes and he was the self-appointed spokesperson for his Senior Solutions Class at the Algona Hospital. He loved spending time with his family, attending and watching their events. One of Roger’s greatest joys in life was riding horses with his children and grandchildren. Whether it was riding his palomino “Lucky”, driving his team “Penny” and “Loho” while pulling the corn planter in the local parade, or in later years team penning and trail riding.
Left to cherish Roger’s memory is his wife of 47 years, Sandi of Algona; children, Bruce (Mary) Keith of Algona, Julie (John) Reed of Algona, Paula (Bruce) Elliott of Algona, Kimberly (Jon) Reese of Springfield, Mo., Rebecca (Dave) Dow of Emmetsburg and Alycia (Cal) Wolterman of Swea City; 23 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Dixie (Don) Eichelberger of Algona; and a brother-in-law, Larry Klein. He was preceded in death by his parents; great grandsons, Zane Crawmer and Holton Keith; brother, Lynn Keith; sister, Jean Klein; and a brother-in-law, Bill Doocy.
Memorials may be made in Roger’s name and directed to: Faith Church, 716 E. McGregor St., Algona, IA or American Parkinson Disease Association, P.O. Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306.