Keith H. Mrnak

Funeral services for Keith H. Mrnak, 80, of Glendive, Mont., will be 2 p. m. on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, at the Glendive Evangelical Church with Pastor Jim O'Connor officiating.

Interment will follow in Dawson Memorial Cemetery at Glendive, with military rites by the Glendive American Legion, Dawson Post 28 and the Montana Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Visitation will be 11 a. m. to 2 p. m., Monday, Dec. 13, at the church.

Keith was born on Aug. 29, 1930, to parents Hank and Olga Mrnak in Baker, Mont. He attended Pershing School in rural Carter County through eighth grade. Keith boarded his freshman year in Ekalaka to begin high school. The next year, he and his brother David "batched it" in a covered-wagon-sort of trailer and survived the weekdays for two years in that modest arrangement going home to the country as many weekends as possible.

At the beginning of Keith's senior year (and David's junior year), Hank and Olga left the farm and for five years ran the Locker Plant in Ekalaka, providing shelter and jobs for Keith and David in the family business.

Keith graduated from Carter County High School in the spring of 1948, earning the High School Honor Scholarship for the Montana University System. Keith entered the United States Army in the spring of 1951, serving time in Germany during the Korean War. He earned the Honor Graduate Award for the First Medical Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas, in September 1951. Keith was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal in April 1953.

Keith married Audrey Mattie in October 1952, in Baker, Mont. Together, they raised three children, Yvonne, Duane and Darwin. Keith managed grain elevators most of his working life, beginning in Baker and then moving to Lothair, where the kids went to grade school.

After that, he took a job as a purchasing agent at the hospital in Havre.

He preferred the grain elevator work so they moved to Froid. Keith and Audrey retired to Glendive, where they both lived, prior to moving into the Eastern Montana Veteran's home the last couple of years. During retirement, they enjoyed traveling the country in their motor home, fishing at Fort Peck and visiting with their many friends and family.

Audrey passed away in October 2009, and Keith was left with memories of her laughter and fun-filled spirit. He died peacefully napping the evening of Dec. 7, 2010.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Audrey; and one grandson, Derik Froehlich.

He is survived by his only brother, David (Dorene) Mrnak of Ekalaka, Mont. ; three children, Yvonne (Ron) Gebhardt, Sidney, Mont., Duane (Lisa) Mrnak, Grand Rapids, Minn., and Darwin Mrnak, Stanley, N,D. ; four grandchildren, Craig (Marci) Gebhardt, Honolulu, Hawaii, Nicholas (Leandra), Great Falls, Mont., Scott Froehlich, Havre, Mont., and Jeremy (Eve) Froehlich, Bemidji, Minn. ; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was awaiting the arrival of his twin great-granddaughters in March.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.stevensonfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the care of Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, Mont.

Funeral services for Keith H. Mrnak, 80, of Glendive, Mont., will be 2 p. m. on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, at the Glendive Evangelical Church with Pastor Jim O'Connor officiating.

Interment will follow in Dawson Memorial Cemetery at Glendive, with military rites by the Glendive American Legion, Dawson Post 28 and the Montana Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Visitation will be 11 a. m. to 2 p. m., Monday, Dec. 13, at the church.

Keith was born on Aug. 29, 1930, to parents Hank and Olga Mrnak in Baker, Mont. He attended Pershing School in rural Carter County through eighth grade. Keith boarded his freshman year in Ekalaka to begin high school. The next year, he and his brother David "batched it" in a covered-wagon-sort of trailer and survived the weekdays for two years in that modest arrangement going home to the country as many weekends as possible.

At the beginning of Keith's senior year (and David's junior year), Hank and Olga left the farm and for five years ran the Locker Plant in Ekalaka, providing shelter and jobs for Keith and David in the family business.

Keith graduated from Carter County High School in the spring of 1948, earning the High School Honor Scholarship for the Montana University System. Keith entered the United States Army in the spring of 1951, serving time in Germany during the Korean War. He earned the Honor Graduate Award for the First Medical Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas, in September 1951. Keith was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal in April 1953.

Keith married Audrey Mattie in October 1952, in Baker, Mont. Together, they raised three children, Yvonne, Duane and Darwin. Keith managed grain elevators most of his working life, beginning in Baker and then moving to Lothair, where the kids went to grade school.

After that, he took a job as a purchasing agent at the hospital in Havre.

He preferred the grain elevator work so they moved to Froid. Keith and Audrey retired to Glendive, where they both lived, prior to moving into the Eastern Montana Veteran's home the last couple of years. During retirement, they enjoyed traveling the country in their motor home, fishing at Fort Peck and visiting with their many friends and family.

Audrey passed away in October 2009, and Keith was left with memories of her laughter and fun-filled spirit. He died peacefully napping the evening of Dec. 7, 2010.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Audrey; and one grandson, Derik Froehlich.

He is survived by his only brother, David (Dorene) Mrnak of Ekalaka, Mont. ; three children, Yvonne (Ron) Gebhardt, Sidney, Mont., Duane (Lisa) Mrnak, Grand Rapids, Minn., and Darwin Mrnak, Stanley, N,D. ; four grandchildren, Craig (Marci) Gebhardt, Honolulu, Hawaii, Nicholas (Leandra), Great Falls, Mont., Scott Froehlich, Havre, Mont., and Jeremy (Eve) Froehlich, Bemidji, Minn. ; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was awaiting the arrival of his twin great-granddaughters in March.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.stevensonfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the care of Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, Mont.