Frank Peter Keller, 87, Piedmont, died Friday, August 15, 2008, at the Black Hills VA Health Care Center at Fort Meade.

Visitation will be 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont. Rosary and Christian Prayer services will be 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont with Fr. Mark McCormick officiating. Burial will follow at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Frank was born May 21, 1921, in Glencross, SD, to Peter V. and Kathryn (Wolf) Keller. Frank grew up on his parents' farm. He graduated from Timber Lake High School in 1940 and attended Black Hills Commercial College in Rapid City, SD. He later worked at Rapid City Army Air Force Base, now known as Ellsworth Air Force Base.

He married Mary Hummel in Rapid City on June 30, 1942. In August 1942, he entered the service and took his training in the Medical Corps at Camp Forrest, TN. In November of 1943, he was notified that he was scheduled for oversees duty. During World War II, Frank served in five campaigns and received his honorable discharge and arrived home November 28, 1945, just two days before his first daughter's (Linda) 2nd birthday. As he said, "what a homecoming that was!"

Frank spent most of his working life as a skilled carpenter and craftsman, building and remodeling some of the area's finest homes. He was recognized numerous times as craftsman of the year.

Frank gave of his time and talent during the remodel of the church he loved, Our Lady of the Black Hills, of which he is a member. He showed his love of family and craftsmanship, by building each child, grandchild, and nearly all great-grandchildren, a personalized wooden trunk. The trunks are cherished and have been know to hold many special "treasures". These are known in the family as "Grandpa Frank's trunks."

He was made an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus, Piedmont Council, lifetime member of the VFW, Rapid City Post #1273, and a member of the American Legion in Piedmont.

His first wife, Mary, died on December 12, 1986. Frank married longtime friend Cecilia (Klein) Silvernagel on February 13, 1988.

Greatful for his life and for the many cherished memories he leaves are his wife, Cecilia, Piedmont; children, Linda Bell, St. Paul, MN, Mary Kay Moran and her husband, Dennis, Sioux Falls, SD, Patty Mattingly, Louisville, KY, Madonna Costello and her husband, Tom, Harding County, SD, and Michael Keller and his wife, Teresa, Rapid City; and step-daughter, Beverly Draine and her husband, Gerald, Spearfish.

Frank is lovingly remembered also by his 22 grandchildren; Jerry, Kathy, Jeff, and Stephen Bell, children of Linda; Dan, Michael, Patrick, and Christopher Moran, children of Mary Kay; Amanda, Liz, Stephanie, Mau Twan (Alex) Elliott, and Richard Keller, children of Michael; Tonya and Pete, children of Patty; and Jake, Tommy and Matthew Costello, children of Madonna; and his step-grandchildren; Heather, Nick and Jillian Draine, children of Beverly.

Frank is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren; and three brothers, Peter and his wife, Fauneil, Linus and his wife, Delila, and Baldwin Keller.

Frank was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary; his parents; four brothers; four sisters; son-in-law, Pete Mattingly; along with several nephews, aunts and uncles.

A memorial has been established to the Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont.