Richard C. Keeping

Richard C. Keeping, 93, died on Friday, May 2, 2008, in his home in Hawley, MN.Richard C. Keeping was born on November 23, 1914, near Hawley, MN, to Charles and Minnie Wenthin Keeping. He grew up and attended school there. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Pacific Northwest. He returned to Hawley, MN, and married Arlit Doran on October 30, 1941. They lived briefly in California and then moved to Hawley, where they made their home. He farmed with his father on the family farm and also worked for American Crystal Sugar, starting in December 1956. Eventually he took over one of the family farms. Richard really enjoyed the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion and participating in the Volksmarch, and Breakfast on the Farm. He had donated a wood Silo to the WMSTR and it sits on the grounds at Rollag. Richard had a hobby of making canes out of diamond willow. Arlit died in September 22, 1993.He is survived by two sons, Roger, Moorhead, MN, and Douglas Marsha, Hawley, MN; two daughters, DeVonne Walters, Hawley, MN, and Rebecca Gary Hilliard, Glyndon, MN; two brothers, LeRoy, Suffolk, England, and Vernon, Moorhead, MN; one sister, Evelyn Hansen, Hawley, MN. Ten grandchildren; Eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Arlit; a brother, George; a sister, Jeanette; two great-grandchildren and his son-in-law, Donald Walters.