Walter Keidel

Walter Keidel, 88, Mandan, passed away May 31, 2020 at Sanford Health in Bismarck.

A private family burial service will be held at St. John’s Cemetery, rural Mandan, with Rev. Christina Martin officiating.

Walter was born October 25, 1931 on the family farm in rural Morton County to Ernest and Emma (Timm) Keidel.  He grew up on the farm south of Mandan and attended rural country school through the eighth grade.  He then took the short course at North Dakota Agriculture School in Fargo and returned to the family farm.

On June 6, 1959 he married the love of his life, Leona Heinle, in Mandan.  Together they made their home on the family dairy farm where he worked side by side with his father and brother for many years. Walter retired from dairy farming in 2003.  Throughout his very active life, Walter served on many boards and was generous and giving of his time volunteering.  He served on the state 4-H Board and was a leader for over 22 years, served on the Cass Clay Board, was a West River Lions Club Charter Member, served on the First Lutheran Church Board and was a funeral usher for many years.  Later in life, you could always find Walter planting trees for Soil Conservation as well as volunteering for RSVP where he loved knitting caps and donating them to the Cancer Society, Head Start Programs, First Lutheran Church Mitten Tree, and both local hospitals.  A highlight for him was when he and Leona had time to travel together, including trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Switzerland, and around the states on many tours and to visit family.

Blessed to have shared in his life is his wife of 60 years, Leona, Mandan; sons, Duane (Joanne), Hazen, Tim (Krystal), Mandan, and Tom (Rita), Mandan; daughter, Diane (Todd) Moran, Bowman; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; sister, Leona Wetsch, Des Moines, IA; sisters-in-law, Virginia Keidel, Mandan, Anna Anderson, Mandan, Harriet Jansen, Rosebud, MT, Martha (Edwin) Jewell, Sandpoint, ID, and Agnes (Norman) Foster, Salem, OR; brothers-in-law, Edmund (Mavis) Heinle, Miles City, MT and Eugene (Lynn) Heinle, Eugene, OR; along with many nieces and nephews.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lloyd; brothers-in-law, Jack Wetsch and Robert Heinle; and sister-in-law, Arlo Heinle.

In lieu of flowers, Walter wished memorials be made to First Lutheran Church of Mandan.