Donald Lewis Keele

After coming home from a day at work, and then giving his usual attention to projects in the back yard, Donald Lewis Keele was called home to Heaven on July 15, 2024.

Don was born March 12, 1945, in Salmon Idaho, to Wallace and Maxine (Aumock) Keele. He came seven years behind older brother, LeRoy, and recounted many stunts and adventures he experienced growing up with the brother he had!  During his childhood the family resided in a number of different small towns in Idaho and eastern Washington, moving eventually to Laurel, Montana, where Don met the love of his life, Donna Brennan.

On May 28, 1965, Don and Donna were married in the Laurel Assembly of God church (now called Family Church), where the two devoted many years serving in volunteer ministry with youth, children, nursing home services, transportation, Sunday School, camps, choirs, and prayer. Don particularly enjoyed working in the Royal Ranger program, teaching boys camping and survival skills as well as how to hear from and follow God.  He served several years as the RR Senior Commander and became involved in the Frontiersman Camping Fraternity—which involved period costumes, bush craft, and black powder rifle skills.  A photo of Don and Donna in frontier attire, hanging on the wall of the family home, recently caught Don’s attention and made him smile and say, “that lady sure put up with a lot with me!”

Don and Donna were married for over fifty-eight years and raised four exceptional (if not entirely perfect) children. (You can guess who is writing this obituary…)  Family activities included a lot of camping, fishing, hiking, rock-hounding,  hunting, four-wheeling, and sledding. Their children learned to love the beauty of nature and the amazing God who created it. Some have said that one’s idea of God is based on their image of their own earthly father. Don’s children know that God is dependable, joy-filled, and infinitely loving, as was their dad.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and brother, and his precious wife Donna. He is survived by sons Michael (Jennifer), Danny (Angela), and Shannon (Kathy) Keele, and daughter Patsy Taylor, as well as sixteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, July 27, at 10:30 a.m. at Family Church, located at 1002 Third Avenue in Laurel. The most meaningful thing that you could do for the family is to share with them your memories of Don.