Keith, Cecil Frank 1918-2006

KEITH, BEARD, ZWIERS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/22/2014 at 14:23:27

Sioux Center News October 25, 2006
Cecil F.Keith
Cecil Frank Keith , 88, of Orange City, d i e d F r i d a y , October 20, at the Orange City Area Health System Long Term Care Facility. Funeral service was Monday at 1:30 p.m. at t h e O o 1 m a n Funeral Home in Orange City with the Rev. Dr. Perry De Groot and Hubert Schuller officiating. Interment was at West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

Keith was born on June 9,1918, in rural Winterset, the son of Thomas Benton and Lillie Pearl (Beard) Keith. He wasraised at Jefferson, where he attended school. He then served in the United States Army during World War II. On December 10, 1945, he married Jennie Zwiers in Troy, Kansas. They lived in Sioux Center until 1951, when they moved to Orange City, where he was a lineman for the Rural Electric Association. After being electrocuted,he was still able, to climb poles for a while. However, when his feet deteriorated, he was made materials manager and maintenance man for the R. E. C.

His wife died on April 28, 1987, in Orange City. On August 1, 2005, he became a resident of the Pioneer Memorial Home in Orange City. On February 20, 2006, he transferred to the Long Term Care Facility. In earlier years, he enjoyed reading, but after his eyesight failed, he listened to tape recordings of books. He also liked to watch television, especially NASCAR races, baseball games and rodeos.

Survivors include nine children, Larry Keith, and his wife Becki of Maurice, Lynnette and her husband Mark Schuller of Orange City, Harv Keith and his wife Steph of Hudson, South Dakota, Les Keith and his wife Nancy of Hot Springs, South Dakota, Glenda, and her husband Roger Bailey of Iowa Falls, Margene and her husband Jim Vander Wilt of Littleton, Colorado, Patti and her husband Ron De Groot of Brandon, South Dakota, Deb and her husband Chris Semmler of Parkston, South Dakota, and Terri Harper of Springdale, Arkansas; a daughter in- law, Linda Keith of Santa Anna, California; 24 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by a son, Dennis; a step-grandson; a great-grandson; a sister; five brothers; and his companion in later life, Marie Coover. Memorials may be directed to the Orange City Area Home Health and Hospice.