Keith Eldridge Hesby, 85, of Lake Preston died, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Lake Preston Lutheran Church with the Rev. Rick Senner officiating. Burial is in the Lake Preston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on today in the church and preceding services in the church.
Keith was born Jan. 28, 1932, in Arlington, to Kenneth (KV) and Hazelle (Weidenkopt) Hesby. He attended Hetland School through ninth grade and graduated from Lake Preston High School in 1950.
He farmed for three years before entering the Army in 1953. He served time in Germany and was an active member of the Hetland American Legion. He returned home and married Eunice Hesby in May 1955.
Keith spent the rest of his life farming a mile west of Hetland, where they raised five children. He joked that he got into milk cows when Eunice’s father, Fred gave them a milk cow for their wedding.
They moved into Lake Preston in 2000 and continued to farm with his son.
He was an active member of Lake Preston Lutheran Church and throughout his life, serving on the Hetland School Board, Denver-Kingsbury Farm Mutual Board and Church Council.
Keith is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eunice; his children, Debra (Arden) Jones of Hartford, Kyle (Pat) Hesby of Fargo, North Dakota, Cindy (Rano) Kirschenman of Menno, Lynn (Lori) Hesby of Lake Preston and Carol (Dave) Perrett of Parker, Colo.; 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Joanne (Vernon) Vedvei and Helen (Wes) Jones and many in-laws, nieces and nephews, also remembering special friends, Ron and Rita Liljegren, Alan,
Mandy Liljegren and family, Eric Liljegren.
He was preceded in death by brother David.
