Ervin Markus Keller was a man of many skills. He was a dairy farmer. He was a knowledgeable carpenter, but he couldn't always buy the tools he needed. He was known to make tools he needed including a machine that twisted twine into rope. Although he finished school early in his teens, he was an avid reader and knew there was much more to learn about the world.
Ervin was a founding director of the TC&G Water Association and served on the board for many years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Glencross Co-op.
The past few years found Ervin busy with so many things but the legacy he leaves will certainly be his love for iron and creating the beautiful wrought and scrolled iron crosses which were connected to his German Russian heritage. He discovered his enjoyment for blacksmithing through his good friend Herman Kraft. Their mutual interest in creating crosses began when they started to work with others to identify and mark infant graves on long forgotten prairie cemeteries. He also created other ironwork art such as roses, anvils, and letter openers.
"But he enjoyed his labor most when he was making the iron crosses," his family said.
Making of the intricate and delicate iron crosses may soon become a lost art. Ervin died Thursday, May 18, 2006, at the Mobridge Regional Hospital after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He was 81 years old.
He was born April 3, 1925, to Peter V. and Katherine (Wolff) Keller in Glencross. He attended school in Glencross and Trail City until he was 16 and worked on the farm with his father.
On Oct. 7, 1952, he married Angeline Goldade in Timber Lake and they made their home seven miles west of Trail City. Ervin, with time, patience and talent, built their home from the ground up on a patch of pasture he received from his father. They lived in the basement until he could build the upper part. It was at that place he took care of the dairy operation, farmed and they raised their children.
He and Angeline expanded the dairy operation as the years went by and in 1976 they bought the Ray Whalen ranch north of Timber Lake. It was a big achievement for him and then became bigger when he was able to pass on his love for the land to his sons.
In the mid-1990s, with the dairy operation and ranch in the good hands of his boys, Ervin renewed his interest in other areas around the farm. He loved putting in a vegetable garden and always included plenty of his favorite radishes. The garden was always large enough to sustain his children and neighbors.
"Dad's motto seemed to be 'the bigger the garden, the better,'" his boys said.
Ervin always butchered beef and pork for his family but after "retirement" he was able to spend more time doing it and was known for his secret sausage recipe, which is known only by a few but coveted by many. He was proud to be able to help his children and friends by butchering along side them up until a few months ago.
He was an Honorary Member of the National Geographic Society. In addition to being a faithful subscriber, it kept him informed about the world beyond the farm.
"His ability to recall facts and trivia from his readings was extraordinary," his family said. "He so enjoyed reading a good novel at the end of the day, but he also loved to discuss the stories he read with others and often loaned his books to his friends and us."
He belonged to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glencross until its closing, then joined the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Timber Lake.
Survivors are his wife Angeline of Trail City; eight sons, Eugene (Kay) Keller of Etowah, Tenn., Lyle Keller of Beulah, Wyo., Steve (Holly) Keller of Trail City, Wayne (Delaine) Keller of Timber Lake, David (Nancy) Keller of Rapid City, Gery Keller of Rapid City, Michael Keller of Omaha, Neb., and John (Nettie) Keller of Montevideo, Minn.; and four daughters, Sheila (Joe) Scherer of Timber Lake, Diane (Martin) Wurtz of McLaughlin, Carol (Jon) Kaye of Sturgis and Sandy (Tim) Neyhart of Pierre.
Also surviving are 24 grandchildren, Sarah Keller, Jeremy, Audry, Nicole Keller, Jessica (Ernie) Wurtz, Joshua Keller, Madisyn, Kenidee and Wylee Keller, Adam and Amanda Keller, Ethan and Travis Keller, Trisha and Ashley Keller, Lindsay (Todd) Landis, Aaron Scherer, Denise (Kenny) Glaser, Danielle Buechler, Christopher and Cara Kaye, Angi (Kal) Varland, Kimberly and Katherine Neyhart and nine great-grandchildren; five brothers, Frank Keller of Rapid City, Baldwin Keller of Mobridge, Walter Keller of Portland, Ore., Linus Keller of Timber Lake and Peter Keller of Trail City.
His parents, three brothers and four sisters preceded him in death.
Burial was in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery at Glencross under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Mobridge Tribune May 24, 2006
Ervin was a founding director of the TC&G Water Association and served on the board for many years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Glencross Co-op.
The past few years found Ervin busy with so many things but the legacy he leaves will certainly be his love for iron and creating the beautiful wrought and scrolled iron crosses which were connected to his German Russian heritage. He discovered his enjoyment for blacksmithing through his good friend Herman Kraft. Their mutual interest in creating crosses began when they started to work with others to identify and mark infant graves on long forgotten prairie cemeteries. He also created other ironwork art such as roses, anvils, and letter openers.
"But he enjoyed his labor most when he was making the iron crosses," his family said.
Making of the intricate and delicate iron crosses may soon become a lost art. Ervin died Thursday, May 18, 2006, at the Mobridge Regional Hospital after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He was 81 years old.
He was born April 3, 1925, to Peter V. and Katherine (Wolff) Keller in Glencross. He attended school in Glencross and Trail City until he was 16 and worked on the farm with his father.
On Oct. 7, 1952, he married Angeline Goldade in Timber Lake and they made their home seven miles west of Trail City. Ervin, with time, patience and talent, built their home from the ground up on a patch of pasture he received from his father. They lived in the basement until he could build the upper part. It was at that place he took care of the dairy operation, farmed and they raised their children.
He and Angeline expanded the dairy operation as the years went by and in 1976 they bought the Ray Whalen ranch north of Timber Lake. It was a big achievement for him and then became bigger when he was able to pass on his love for the land to his sons.
In the mid-1990s, with the dairy operation and ranch in the good hands of his boys, Ervin renewed his interest in other areas around the farm. He loved putting in a vegetable garden and always included plenty of his favorite radishes. The garden was always large enough to sustain his children and neighbors.
"Dad's motto seemed to be 'the bigger the garden, the better,'" his boys said.
Ervin always butchered beef and pork for his family but after "retirement" he was able to spend more time doing it and was known for his secret sausage recipe, which is known only by a few but coveted by many. He was proud to be able to help his children and friends by butchering along side them up until a few months ago.
He was an Honorary Member of the National Geographic Society. In addition to being a faithful subscriber, it kept him informed about the world beyond the farm.
"His ability to recall facts and trivia from his readings was extraordinary," his family said. "He so enjoyed reading a good novel at the end of the day, but he also loved to discuss the stories he read with others and often loaned his books to his friends and us."
He belonged to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glencross until its closing, then joined the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Timber Lake.
Survivors are his wife Angeline of Trail City; eight sons, Eugene (Kay) Keller of Etowah, Tenn., Lyle Keller of Beulah, Wyo., Steve (Holly) Keller of Trail City, Wayne (Delaine) Keller of Timber Lake, David (Nancy) Keller of Rapid City, Gery Keller of Rapid City, Michael Keller of Omaha, Neb., and John (Nettie) Keller of Montevideo, Minn.; and four daughters, Sheila (Joe) Scherer of Timber Lake, Diane (Martin) Wurtz of McLaughlin, Carol (Jon) Kaye of Sturgis and Sandy (Tim) Neyhart of Pierre.
Also surviving are 24 grandchildren, Sarah Keller, Jeremy, Audry, Nicole Keller, Jessica (Ernie) Wurtz, Joshua Keller, Madisyn, Kenidee and Wylee Keller, Adam and Amanda Keller, Ethan and Travis Keller, Trisha and Ashley Keller, Lindsay (Todd) Landis, Aaron Scherer, Denise (Kenny) Glaser, Danielle Buechler, Christopher and Cara Kaye, Angi (Kal) Varland, Kimberly and Katherine Neyhart and nine great-grandchildren; five brothers, Frank Keller of Rapid City, Baldwin Keller of Mobridge, Walter Keller of Portland, Ore., Linus Keller of Timber Lake and Peter Keller of Trail City.
His parents, three brothers and four sisters preceded him in death.
Burial was in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery at Glencross under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Mobridge Tribune May 24, 2006
Ervin Markus Keller was a man of many skills. He was a dairy farmer. He was a knowledgeable carpenter, but he couldn't always buy the tools he needed. He was known to make tools he needed including a machine that twisted twine into rope. Although he finished school early in his teens, he was an avid reader and knew there was much more to learn about the world.
Ervin was a founding director of the TC&G Water Association and served on the board for many years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Glencross Co-op.
The past few years found Ervin busy with so many things but the legacy he leaves will certainly be his love for iron and creating the beautiful wrought and scrolled iron crosses which were connected to his German Russian heritage. He discovered his enjoyment for blacksmithing through his good friend Herman Kraft. Their mutual interest in creating crosses began when they started to work with others to identify and mark infant graves on long forgotten prairie cemeteries. He also created other ironwork art such as roses, anvils, and letter openers.
"But he enjoyed his labor most when he was making the iron crosses," his family said.
Making of the intricate and delicate iron crosses may soon become a lost art. Ervin died Thursday, May 18, 2006, at the Mobridge Regional Hospital after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He was 81 years old.
He was born April 3, 1925, to Peter V. and Katherine (Wolff) Keller in Glencross. He attended school in Glencross and Trail City until he was 16 and worked on the farm with his father.
On Oct. 7, 1952, he married Angeline Goldade in Timber Lake and they made their home seven miles west of Trail City. Ervin, with time, patience and talent, built their home from the ground up on a patch of pasture he received from his father. They lived in the basement until he could build the upper part. It was at that place he took care of the dairy operation, farmed and they raised their children.
He and Angeline expanded the dairy operation as the years went by and in 1976 they bought the Ray Whalen ranch north of Timber Lake. It was a big achievement for him and then became bigger when he was able to pass on his love for the land to his sons.
In the mid-1990s, with the dairy operation and ranch in the good hands of his boys, Ervin renewed his interest in other areas around the farm. He loved putting in a vegetable garden and always included plenty of his favorite radishes. The garden was always large enough to sustain his children and neighbors.
"Dad's motto seemed to be 'the bigger the garden, the better,'" his boys said.
Ervin always butchered beef and pork for his family but after "retirement" he was able to spend more time doing it and was known for his secret sausage recipe, which is known only by a few but coveted by many. He was proud to be able to help his children and friends by butchering along side them up until a few months ago.
He was an Honorary Member of the National Geographic Society. In addition to being a faithful subscriber, it kept him informed about the world beyond the farm.
"His ability to recall facts and trivia from his readings was extraordinary," his family said. "He so enjoyed reading a good novel at the end of the day, but he also loved to discuss the stories he read with others and often loaned his books to his friends and us."
He belonged to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glencross until its closing, then joined the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Timber Lake.
Survivors are his wife Angeline of Trail City; eight sons, Eugene (Kay) Keller of Etowah, Tenn., Lyle Keller of Beulah, Wyo., Steve (Holly) Keller of Trail City, Wayne (Delaine) Keller of Timber Lake, David (Nancy) Keller of Rapid City, Gery Keller of Rapid City, Michael Keller of Omaha, Neb., and John (Nettie) Keller of Montevideo, Minn.; and four daughters, Sheila (Joe) Scherer of Timber Lake, Diane (Martin) Wurtz of McLaughlin, Carol (Jon) Kaye of Sturgis and Sandy (Tim) Neyhart of Pierre.
Also surviving are 24 grandchildren, Sarah Keller, Jeremy, Audry, Nicole Keller, Jessica (Ernie) Wurtz, Joshua Keller, Madisyn, Kenidee and Wylee Keller, Adam and Amanda Keller, Ethan and Travis Keller, Trisha and Ashley Keller, Lindsay (Todd) Landis, Aaron Scherer, Denise (Kenny) Glaser, Danielle Buechler, Christopher and Cara Kaye, Angi (Kal) Varland, Kimberly and Katherine Neyhart and nine great-grandchildren; five brothers, Frank Keller of Rapid City, Baldwin Keller of Mobridge, Walter Keller of Portland, Ore., Linus Keller of Timber Lake and Peter Keller of Trail City.
His parents, three brothers and four sisters preceded him in death.
Burial was in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery at Glencross under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Mobridge Tribune May 24, 2006
Ervin was a founding director of the TC&G Water Association and served on the board for many years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Glencross Co-op.
The past few years found Ervin busy with so many things but the legacy he leaves will certainly be his love for iron and creating the beautiful wrought and scrolled iron crosses which were connected to his German Russian heritage. He discovered his enjoyment for blacksmithing through his good friend Herman Kraft. Their mutual interest in creating crosses began when they started to work with others to identify and mark infant graves on long forgotten prairie cemeteries. He also created other ironwork art such as roses, anvils, and letter openers.
"But he enjoyed his labor most when he was making the iron crosses," his family said.
Making of the intricate and delicate iron crosses may soon become a lost art. Ervin died Thursday, May 18, 2006, at the Mobridge Regional Hospital after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He was 81 years old.
He was born April 3, 1925, to Peter V. and Katherine (Wolff) Keller in Glencross. He attended school in Glencross and Trail City until he was 16 and worked on the farm with his father.
On Oct. 7, 1952, he married Angeline Goldade in Timber Lake and they made their home seven miles west of Trail City. Ervin, with time, patience and talent, built their home from the ground up on a patch of pasture he received from his father. They lived in the basement until he could build the upper part. It was at that place he took care of the dairy operation, farmed and they raised their children.
He and Angeline expanded the dairy operation as the years went by and in 1976 they bought the Ray Whalen ranch north of Timber Lake. It was a big achievement for him and then became bigger when he was able to pass on his love for the land to his sons.
In the mid-1990s, with the dairy operation and ranch in the good hands of his boys, Ervin renewed his interest in other areas around the farm. He loved putting in a vegetable garden and always included plenty of his favorite radishes. The garden was always large enough to sustain his children and neighbors.
"Dad's motto seemed to be 'the bigger the garden, the better,'" his boys said.
Ervin always butchered beef and pork for his family but after "retirement" he was able to spend more time doing it and was known for his secret sausage recipe, which is known only by a few but coveted by many. He was proud to be able to help his children and friends by butchering along side them up until a few months ago.
He was an Honorary Member of the National Geographic Society. In addition to being a faithful subscriber, it kept him informed about the world beyond the farm.
"His ability to recall facts and trivia from his readings was extraordinary," his family said. "He so enjoyed reading a good novel at the end of the day, but he also loved to discuss the stories he read with others and often loaned his books to his friends and us."
He belonged to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glencross until its closing, then joined the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Timber Lake.
Survivors are his wife Angeline of Trail City; eight sons, Eugene (Kay) Keller of Etowah, Tenn., Lyle Keller of Beulah, Wyo., Steve (Holly) Keller of Trail City, Wayne (Delaine) Keller of Timber Lake, David (Nancy) Keller of Rapid City, Gery Keller of Rapid City, Michael Keller of Omaha, Neb., and John (Nettie) Keller of Montevideo, Minn.; and four daughters, Sheila (Joe) Scherer of Timber Lake, Diane (Martin) Wurtz of McLaughlin, Carol (Jon) Kaye of Sturgis and Sandy (Tim) Neyhart of Pierre.
Also surviving are 24 grandchildren, Sarah Keller, Jeremy, Audry, Nicole Keller, Jessica (Ernie) Wurtz, Joshua Keller, Madisyn, Kenidee and Wylee Keller, Adam and Amanda Keller, Ethan and Travis Keller, Trisha and Ashley Keller, Lindsay (Todd) Landis, Aaron Scherer, Denise (Kenny) Glaser, Danielle Buechler, Christopher and Cara Kaye, Angi (Kal) Varland, Kimberly and Katherine Neyhart and nine great-grandchildren; five brothers, Frank Keller of Rapid City, Baldwin Keller of Mobridge, Walter Keller of Portland, Ore., Linus Keller of Timber Lake and Peter Keller of Trail City.
His parents, three brothers and four sisters preceded him in death.
Burial was in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery at Glencross under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Mobridge Tribune May 24, 2006
Family Members
Siblings
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Anna Elizabeth Keller Aberle
1911–1995
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Edmund Andrew Keller
1913–1983
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Baldwin Antone Keller
1915–2015
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Timothy T. Keller
1917–1990
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Elizabeth "Lizzie" Keller Leibel
1919–1979
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Frank Peter Keller
1921–2008
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Linus Marin Keller
1928–2011
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Marcella Keller Lipp
1930–2003
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Pauline K Keller Zimmerman
1933–1987
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![]()
Peter Paul Keller
1935–2016
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