NEIL KELLER obituary

BILLINGS - Neil Eugene Keller, 64, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, in Billings of natural causes.

A prayer vigil service will be held in Billings at 7 p.m. today in St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral with his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Thursday in Havre at the St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Jose Valliparambil officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the funeral. Burial will be held 2 p.m. at the Cottonwood Cemetery north of Havre.

Neil was born May 23, 1941, in Havre to William and Juletta (Garding) Keller. Neil was raised north of Havre on the family farm. He attended grade school at Cottonwood, high school at Havre Central High School and Havre High School. He enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1959 and was honorably discharged in 1962. He then enlisted in the Army Reserves and served until 1967.

He married Arliss Evans June 4, 1966, in Havre at St. Jude's Catholic Church. The couple made their home in Havre, where Neil worked on various farms for neighbors, at services stations, an insurance firm and as a floor installer. He went on to be the first certified contract floor installer in Montana. He purchased his uncle's farm and farmed for a few years and then moved to Billings to work in the floor covering business.

Neil enjoyed working on cars, woodworking and was an all-around handy person. He was a member of 4-H in his youth, and was active as an adult in Farmers Union, Jaycees and the Knights of Columbus, in which he was a fourth-degree knight.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Jamie in 1982; two infant brothers; and sister, Carol.

Survivors include his wife, Arliss of Billings; daughters, Janine (Jay) Johnson and Jenna Keller, all of Billings; sons, Dean Keller of Havre, Joe (Lia) Keller and Jared (Angela) Keller, all of Billings, and Justin Keller of Texas; sisters, Arlene Keller, Laura (Jerry) Kinsella, Lorraine (Steve) Don, all of Havre, and Audrey Marston of Veazie, Maine; brothers, Leroy Keller, Clarence Keller, Vic (Nancy) Keller, Dennis (Gayle) Keller, Dan (Launa) Keller, all of Havre, Gerald (Shirley) Keller of Turner, Mike (Paulette) Keller of Lloyd and Kenny Keller of Billings; and 10 grandchildren.

Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.