Keith A. Woodley

Keith Allen Woodley was born on December 30, 1955, to Edward Ray and Beverly Mae (Erickson) Woodley. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. Growing up he liked snowmobiles, waterskiing on Lake Sarah and muscle cars. He attended Luverne Public Schools, graduating in May 1974. He then graduated from Pipestone VoTech with a certificate in auto mechanics.

Keith married Laura Elaine Saarloos on February 12, 1977, and the couple was blessed with three boys: Jesse, Kyle and Eric. Keith shared his love of riding motorcycles, model trains, remote control airplanes and anything with motors with the boys. He was excited to coach the boys’ hockey teams through the years. They also enjoyed go-kart racing, even competing in the Arena in Sioux Falls during intermission of a Monster Truck exhibition.

The highlight of Keith’s career was opening Woodley Auto Service on east Main Street in 1985 with his partner, his dad, Ed. They operated the family business for 17 years and closed when Ed wanted to retire. Keith kept busy during his retirement years as a handyman, continuing to tinker on as many creative projects as he could. On Saturday, December 9, 2023, Keith passed away due to complications from pneumonia at his home at the age of 67 years, 11 months and 10 days.

Keith is survived by his children, Jesse (Natilee) of Luverne, Kyle (Nicole) of Beaver Creek, and Eric (Ashley) of Luverne; seven grandchildren, Elijah, Hannah, Gracyn, Emmett, Felicity, Aidan and Brody; three siblings, Nancy (Paul) Wurpts of Ellsworth, Minnesota, Bruce (Wanda) Woodley of Hawarden, Iowa, Carol “Gertie” (Dan) Oren of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; many nieces and nephews, who he would teach to drive go-karts, have sleepovers as kids or tease unceasingly; stepmother, Jeanne Woodley; three step-siblings, Mark (Shelly) Bittner, Sheila Rust, and Debra (Mike) Raymond; a special friend, Sheri Riffel; many family and friends; and the loves of his life, his puppies – Hershey and Brutus. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ed and Bev; paternal grandparents, Ray and Luella Woodley; maternal grandparents, Albin and Florence Erickson; uncles, Verdell Lorenzen, Roger Erickson, Art Bloemendaal; cousins, Jim Spicer and Valerie Carmody; and nephew, Chad Saarloos.