William Donald Keller

Dr. William Donald Keller, known by his loved ones as Bill, Rusty, or Don, passed into Heaven on 4/21/23.

Bill Don was born October 2, 1923, to William and Dorothy Keller in Thurber, Texas. He was born prematurely but was ready for a long life ahead. His dear mother moved him to Iowa, and his father soon followed. He had a joyous childhood with his sister Kaye and brother Ric, and when he was 17, his beloved sister Lucinda (Cindy) joined the family. During his childhood in Sioux City, Iowa, his mother taught him and others declamations and lively songs, many of which he would gladly recite up to a couple of months before his passing.

 
Dr. Bill Don received his undergraduate degree from Peabody Teachers College at Vanderbilt and his MA and ED at Colorado State College (Now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, Colorado. He had several jobs throughout his career as a professor of Accounting, with his last and longest job at Ferris State in Big Rapids, Michigan. It was in Michigan where Bill met the love of his life Betty Cole Keller, and in 1976 they married and lived out a happy life for 32 years. He often commented that he moved in with four women, two dogs, and one cat when he married Betty.

 
Bill is known for loving Chess and taking the vicious first move. He loved balancing his checkbooks and playing the stock market with his brother Ric. The brothers were roommates at St. Paul’s Manor in San Diego throughout their 80s. Bill loved maps, politics, the news, the English empire, the Episcopal Church, typing letters, his ukulele, sending mail to his loved ones, being 99, and thinking and praying for his wife Betty and others. He brought so much joy to others, young and old; this was apparent when he put on his elf hat and sang songs for the young children at STRIDE Learning Center in Cheyenne. As his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were growing up, they enthusiastically listened to his songs. Forever and always, the Train Going to Sleepy Town will play in their heads, and who will ever forget “Clancy taking a fancy to Nancy”.

Bill is survived by his beloved sister Lucinda Mahmoud, who wrote him daily during his last few months, his daughter Connie Alderson (Ken), stepchildren Jean Howrey, Bill Cole, John Cole (Judy), Jim Cole (Janine), Leslie Stoke (Mike), Ann Kreiser (Jeff) and Susanna Davis (Scott), numerous Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren, and dear nephews.

 
He is preceded by his wife, Betty Jean Cole Keller, daughter Marjorie Kay Keller, parents Dorothy and William, brother Ric, sister Kay Sherrard Grandsons, Jordan Bauer and Jakson Kreiser, his special friend and Sister in Law, Evelyn Park, and numerous other relatives.
Thank you to his friends the last few years at St Mark’s Episcopal Church in Cheyenne, the staff at Village Inn, the day and evening staff at Life Care Center, and all blessed to know him.

“Well done, Rusty, Good and Faithful Servant”, we will miss you!
Services will be at St Mark’s, with a memorial and burial this summer in Michigan. In lieu of flowers, please donate to STRIDE Learning Center, at 326 Parsley Blvd in Cheyenne, WY, 82007, in Dr. William Keller’s name.

Service date and time - St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 11:00 AM. A memorial service will be announced in Michigan this upcoming summer.

.