Obituary - Keith Allen Whalen

Keith Allen Whalen was born May 12, 1959, in Havre, Montana. He was the only child of Doris Marie (Hamblock) and Daniel John Whalen. 

Keith grew up in Havre and received his formal education at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic School, where he graduated from high school in 1979.  He continued his education for the next two years at Northern Montana College, where he enjoyed working at the campus radio station.

Keith became a well-known personality to many in the Havre community. He enjoyed cruising around in his 1966 Ford Mustang. He also loved music of all kinds and literally collected thousands of record albums, CDs, and DVDs over the years. Another favorite hobby included watching and recording old movies, which he cataloged with his DVDs. In his quiet time at home he enjoyed reading. He also studied genealogy and loved writing about family history. Family was very important to Keith, and he appreciated those who corresponded and visited with him.

In 1995 Keith met Bonnie (Erickson) Wodarz. They were married on Feb. 27, 1996, in Havre and lived there for the next eight years. They moved to Chester in 2004, where they frequented the local restaurants and coffee shops. In May 2013 Keith required care at the Liberty County Nursing Home and remained there until his death on Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, 2016, at the age of 56 years. Keith was a great patient at the Chester rest home. As the staff got to know him, they appreciated his fun personality, great sense of humor and special smile, and the nurses affectionately nicknamed him "Keeter."

Keith's other interests included playing pool and making wooden animals with a jigsaw. He also loved spending time on the computer. His enjoyment of music and movies continued throughout his life. His favorite actors were Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and William Holden. His favorite musicians were Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Alice Cooper, Waylon Jennings, Chris Christofferson and Metallica. Keith was not a traveler, but in the early 1990s he did make a memorable trip to a convention in Ohio with a friend. In addition he loved animals; two of his favorite pets were a cat named "Mugsie" and a dog named "Klyde."

He was preceded in death by his parents, his mom in 2000 and his dad in 2008.

Keith is survived by his wife of 20 years, Bonnie Whalen of Chester; four stepchildren, Emily (Robert) Gorham of Chester, Erick (Stephanie) Wodarz of Missoula, Marjie Wodarz of Bakersfield, California, and Ivon (Monica) Waters of Longmont, Colorado; three step-grandchildren; two uncles, Charles Whalen of Montgomery Village, Maryland and John Whalen of Bridger; two aunts, Elizabeth Thayer of Hanford, California, and Donna (Hamblock) Reed of Havre; and numerous cousins, including Nancy Erickson of Havre, who has served as Keith's legal guardian/conservator.

Public visitation/viewing will be Saturday, Feb. 20, and Sunday morning, Feb. 21, at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chester. A coffee hour will follow.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at the Highland Cemetery in Havre.