Billy Dean Keyes, the son of Waldo and Ethel (Flowers) Keyes was born on April 14, 1932 in Rugby, North Dakota.  He died at the age of 83 years on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at his home in Towner, North Dakota.

Bill was raised on the family farm north of Towner and graduated from Towner High School in 1950.  He moved to Washington to work as a carpenter until 1952 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Chaffee, AR.  He was honorably discharged in 1954.  He returned to North Dakota at attended SSS for two years.  On August 18, 1957, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Marie Geloff at Tuttle, North Dakota.  The couple lived in the following places, Towner, Westhope, Velva, and Las Vegas until making their permanent home in Towner.  The couple had two daughters, Nancy Fay and Donna Marie and a son, David.  Bill farmed for many years, milked cows, had beef cattle and sheep.  He worked many jobs throughout his life; oil rigs, mechanic, truck driver for Winger Cheese, mechanic for Holen Construction, oil driller with his own crew, carpenter, salesperson for Home Club in Las Vegas.  The couple lived in Las Vegas for 12 years before returning to North Dakota.  He enjoyed working with wood and would make trains, doll cradles, lincoln logs and many other things for his grandchildren.  He made a coffee table, two end tables, a jewelry box and sewing box and a ferris wheel for Dorothy.  He loved all the time he spent with his family.

Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy; daughter, Nancy (Randy Pate) Werle of Granville; grandchildren, Robert Keyes (Thomas Richards) of Las Vegas, Michelle (Kyle) Holen of Towner, Lorie Werle (Sloane) Jaeger of Granville, Darwin Werle (Ashley Jones) of Minot, Jackie (Shawn) Milligan of Aurora, CO, William ‘Billy’ May of Fargo, Aaron Gebur of Jamestown, and Tara Gebur of Fargo; great grandchildren, Raven Werle, Loren Lundy, Gabriel Werle, Larry Lundy, Aiyanna Jaeger, Annabelle Jaeger, Augustus Jaeger, Chole Milligan, Harmony Gebur, Samara Holen, Nathaniel Fields and Samantha Lundy; great-great grandchildren, Braycen & Paislee Hedstrand; a son-in-law, Ron Gebur of Deering; a brother, Bob of Towner; a sister, Kay of Rugby; In-laws, Tom (Verlla) Geloff, Pete Geloff and Jayne (Daniel) Zahn; several nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Gebur; a son, David; great granddaughter, Gracelyn May; sisters, Joyce Swearson and Jean Black; brothers, James and Lyle Keyes; and his parents.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 30^th at Zion Lutheran Church in Towner.  Wally Fretland, officiating.