Keith Gary Pritchett

KEITH GARY PRITCHETT was born on a farm near Remsen, IA on January 22, 1936 to Charles and Elsie (Schmitz) Pritchett. Keith attended a country school for 8 years along with helping his father on the home farm. In 1956, Keith joined the Army and was stationed in Alaska which he recollects with many fond memories. During that time, Keith's parents purchased a farm near Elkton, SD. He recollects it took 2-days to pull the steam-thresher from IA to SD.

After the service, Keith worked as a carpenter in building the Lake Benton School. During that time, he met and married Pearl Zeinstra on March 8, 1958. Keith and Pearl started their family on a rented farm near Elkton, SD. A year after their marriage, they worked for a farmer in IA and then returned to rent a farm near Ward, SD. In 1964, they rented the Hubner farm near Pipestone, MN which they purchased in 1970 and raised their family of 7 children. Keith entered the Pipestone County Hospice House on December 16, 2022 and died there on Monday, December 26, 2022 at the age of 86.

Keith enjoyed farming and planting a tree shelter-belt around the building site, but his special love outside of family was his 25 horses. Keith enjoyed riding with a wagon train to Madison, SD a couple of years while Pearl drove their camper. During his retirement, Keith loved attending farm and horse auctions which led him to collect toy farm equipment and large antique tractors. One of his favorite purchases was a 1958 Ford tractor which his grandson, Brett discovered was painted gold under its current red/grey paint. Keith later painted it back to the original gold. Keith also enjoyed welding and made many garden/yard ornaments along with the air-mail mailbox.

In 2008, Keith and Pearl celebrated their 50th anniversary with an open house in Pipestone. Keith and Pearl traveled with friends on vacation to Florida in their younger years and later years to Utah, California and Europe to visit their children. A few of Keith's most treasured vacations were traveling to Alaska to show Pearl where he was stationed along with their trips to the Noah's Ark in Kentucky and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in ND.

Keith is lovingly remembered by his wife, Pearl of Pipestone and children: Kimberly (Gregory) Ernst of Northfield, MN, Keith Jr Pritchett of Flandreau, SD, Charles (Julie) Pritchett of Wichita, KS, Scott (Deborah) Pritchett of Tea, SD, Kammy (Mark) Stueven of Pipestone, MN and Shawn (Erin) Pritchett of Sioux Falls, SD. Also, many treasured memories by his 14 grandchildren: Garrod (Micah) and Kaden Ernst, Keith Ryan (Melissa) Pritchett, Chantelle (Derik) Klaassen, Chase (Mary) Pritchett and Brooke Pritchett, Jessica (Brandon) Folk and Brad Pritchett, Brett, Wyatt and Mariah Stueven, and Adalie, Bryson and Josie Pritchett. Keith was thrilled to be a great-grandpa to Alexis, Brayden and Callie Klaassen, Harper Pritchett, and Palmer Folk plus another to be great-grandson in February. He is also survived by his siblings: JoAnn Rowenhorst and LaVonne (Earl) Edmondson along with sister-in-law, Romelle Pritchett plus many nieces and nephews on both sides. Keith was preceded in death by his son, Peter Pritchett; his parents; brothers: Faye, Claire and Kenny; along with his sister, Darlene (Robert) Anderson; plus brother-in-law, Cliff Rowenhorst. Also preceded by all of Pearl's brothers: Felix (Cornelia), Floyd (Henrietta), Harvey (Carol) and Bernard (Marie) Zeinstra; in addition to Pearl's sisters: Alvera (Don) Klingbile, Claretta (Bart) Baartman and Sylvia (Jack) Overgaauw.

Blessed be his memory!!