March 28, 1947 – February 15, 2022
Funeral services for Patti Keckler, 74, of Eagle Butte were held February 21, 2022, at the UCC Church in Eagle Butte. Burial was at the Eagle Butte Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Patti passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at her home.
On March 28, 1947, the eleventh child of William and Irene (King) Thompson was born in Miller, SD. Her parents named her Priscilla Joanne. Her big brother was home from the Navy and quickly announced: “You can name her Priscilla, but I’m calling her Patti Jo” and Patti Jo it was.
Patti grew up and attended country school in south Hand County. When it was time for high school she moved to Huron and lived with an older sister for two years. She met the love of her life, Jack Keckler, at a dance in Fort Pierre. The relationship continued and she moved to live with her brother in Ridgeview and attended Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School.
Patti and Jack were married in Pipestone, MN on November 12, 1964. They made their home in Eagle Butte, where Patti worked at Dwyer’s Café, 212 Liquor, Butler’s Grocery Store, and the State Bank of Eagle Butte, and was the Avon lady of Eagle Butte for many years (winning national awards for her performance) all while ranching with Jack, and building their cow-calf operation and trucking business.
To this union two children were born: Billie Jo and J.R.
Patti was everyone’s friend, and kids loved her. Many times people would be standing in line against the bank lobby wall waiting for their turn in Patti’s teller line.
Patti loved the color red, her home, vehicles and anything that could be was a shade of red. She collected Santas, and each year she would display them all. At last count her Santa collection was over 650.
Jack lost his battle with cancer in 2004. Although she continued to work in town and on the ranch, life was never the same.
Patti’s health slowed down and she hated losing her independence. She passed away peacefully at home on February 15.
Patti is survived by her daughter Billie Jo, son J.R. (Casey) and grandchildren Janesa (Kyle), Jacksyn (Elizabeth), Courtney and Jack and a great-grandchild, Baker Scott; a sister Norma Yost, brothers-in-law Jerry Keckler and Lawrence Bonebrake; sisters-in-law Linda Keckler, Esther Thompson and Nel Keckler; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Jack, son-in-law Todd Bakeberg, father in law Russell and mother-in-law Alvina; siblings Reva Gross, Dick Thompson, Lester Thompson, Bessie Reimer, Berniece Wahlert, Verna Mae Reimer, Russell Thompson, Thelma Parker and Juletta Bonebrake; brothers-in-law Jerry Collins, Ronnie Keckler, Gumbo Thompson, Art Gross, Keith Wahlert, Billy Reimer; Ted Reimer, Burt Parker, Edwin Yost, sisters-in-law- Joyce Collins, Jessie Keckler, Dianne Thompson and Alva Schneider.
(The family’s address is PO Box 39, Eagle Butte, SD 57625.)