Lois Keily

Lois Keily, 67, Tappen, died January 24, 2005, at a Bismarck hospital. Lois was serenaded into the loving arms of God. Scripture Service will be Wednesday January 26th at 7:30 PM at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Tappen, ND. Father Jerome Hunkler will be officiating at the Funeral Mass celebrating Lois' life and death, Thursday, January 27th at 10:30 AM, in St Paul's Catholic Church, Tappen, ND. Interment will follow at Fischer Cemetery, north of Tappen. On October 17, 1937 God graced the earth with a most wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend, and January 24, 2005, he called her back. Lois Grace Robinson Keily was born to Ralph and Lucille Waters Robinson. She was raised on a farm northeast of Dawson, ND with her siblings, Harold, Walter, Richard, Erwin Eric, Allen & Kathy. She graduated as Valedictorian from Dawson High School in 1955. She attended Jamestown College. Lois married her life partner Dan Keily Jr. on June 18, 1956. Together they farmed west of Tappen, eventually taking over the Keily farm in 1968, following the death of Dan's father. To this joyous marriage 10 children were born: LaVonne Nonnie, Ralph Daniel, Thomas Daniel Danny boy, Mary, Bridget, Neal Patrick, Corrine Corky, Karen, Michael Mike, & Patricia Trish. Their nephew Eric Anderson came to live with them when he was in the 8th grade until he graduated from high school, and is loved as their own child. They spent their life raising their kids and teaching them, by example, the right way to live. Mom loved to hear her kids sing and looked forward to our dishwashing ritual of singing until the dishes were done. She supported us in any adventure and we have often laughed and thought how silly we must have appeared to the community when we put on a circus in the back yard and invited the town. But Mom backed us and made brownies and kool-aid. Fixing six heads of hair for church was no easy feat, yet years later many would comment on how all six girl's hair was beautifully finished for 8:00 am Mass on Sunday mornings. Lois's belief in God and her love for her family was evident in everything she did, from washing clothes, to making bread, to her wry sense of humor. She requested only one thing - for her family to sing to her on her deathbed, with which they gladly complied. Lois was active in St Paul's Catholic Church in Tappen where she taught CCD classes for many years and was a vital member of the Altar Society. She was active in all the community functions in both Tappen and Dawson. Lois loved birdhouses, flowers and sewing. She took great pride in keeping the Grotto in front of St. Paul's Church looking wonderful. She couldn't walk by it without stopping to weed or water. She was an excellent seamstress, doing alterations and teaching herself how to upholster furniture. Each time a grandchild was born, she created a special quilt for them. Lois made the most wonderful Christmas bread and family and friends looked forward each year to receiving their coveted loaf of bread. She is survived by her loving husband Dan; her children, Nonnie Bennett Albertson Charbonneau, Mary Vincent Sprague, Bridget Guy Welch, Corky Mark Goldade, Karen Lloyd Kleppe, Mike Michelle Keily, and Trish Bill Borzon; eighteen grandchildren, especially the long awaited "Little Danny Boy" Keily; and one great-grandchild. She is also survived by her sister and brothers and their spouses; her sisters-in-law; special friends, Steve and Deana Stolz; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Lucille and Ralph Robinson; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mary and Dan Keily; her sons, Ralph, Danny and Pat; and her beloved son-in-law, Marty Albertson. May God rest her soul. She will be dearly missed.

Lois Keily

October 17, 1937 - January 24, 2005