Dennis Keifer

DENNIS DEAN KEIFER was born February 15, 1939 to Hollie and Emma (Ihnen) Keifer at Balaton, MN. He was baptized and later confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton. He started growing up on a farm between Balaton and Lynd and attended first grade in Lynd. After moving to a farm near Hendricks he attended country school for two years. Then the family moved to a farm near Tyler and in 1957 he graduated from Tyler High School. After high school he went to Mankato State for two years. He farmed a while and then in 1960 began working for Walter Priebe Drywall. He entered the National Guard in 1960 and served for seven years. On April 23, 1966 Dennis married Karen Sagmoen at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church at Garvin, MN. Their union was blessed with four children and 50 years of life together. They lived on a farm near Tyler, and then in the towns of Florence, Garvin, and New Prague (actually living 10 different places in 10 years) until they built their house in Tyler in 1976. That same year Dennis started his own drywall and painting business and continued drywall work until 2010 when he had treatments for lung cancer. When he was cancer free in January 2011 he continued painting, staining, and varnishing, saying it was easier hauling paint cans and brushes instead of compressors. He enjoyed painting and started refinishing furniture recently, which he really enjoyed. He never wanted to retire; he said it was hard to cool down a hot engine. On Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Dennis died peacefully, surrounded by family, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 77.

Dennis was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tyler where he had served as president, treasurer, councilman, and on the board of Treasure Box Pre-School, and sang in the choir. He liked trains, fishing, gardening and opening presents. He also liked cards and played solitaire with the same deck of cards until their numbers faded. He loved listening to music and singing, and tinkering with small motors. His greatest joy was getting together with children and grandchildren. The joy and laughter he brought to others will be forever remembered; especially when he said, “I’m about a nine…”

Dennis is lovingly remembered by his wife, Karen; his children, Teresa (Joel) Schreurs of Tyler, MN, Tonya (Brian) Halling of Brandon, SD, Greta (Jim) Richter of Sheldon, IA, and Adam Keifer of Tyler, MN; five grandchildren, Brandon and Lexie Rieder, and Dustin, Kyle, and Mallory Halling; one great-grandchild, Layton Rieder; five step-grandchildren, Ashley and Morgan Schreurs, Kelly (Troy) Weiler, Micki (Billie) Fraser, and Brent (Kendra) Richter; six step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Joyce (Gordon) Bock of Portland, OR, and Darlene Keifer of Marshall, MN; sisters-in-law Donna Keifer of Tyler and Darlyn Keifer of Shakopee, MN; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hollie and Emma Keifer; brothers, Ferd and Wayne Keifer; and a sister, Thelma Johnson.