Marvin D. Keffeler, 86, Whitewood, died Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the VA Black Hills Health Care Center at Fort Meade.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2012, at the Presbyterian Church in Whitewood, SD, with Pastors Skip Smith, Pastor Harold Delbridge, Steve Agan officiating. Private family committal services will take place at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with military honors.

Marvin was born November 18, 1925, in Sturgis, SD, to George and Georgeanna (Anderson) Keffeler. He grew up in and around the Sturgis and Hereford area where he attended school and later worked for various area ranchers.

In 1945, Marvin entered the US Army and was a Sergeant in the 15th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron in Europe. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Upon returning home, he resumed ranch work.

Marvin married Jean Hudson on March 8, 1949, and together they raised three children. They moved to Whitewood in 1958 where they have resided since.

He worked as a psych aide at the VA Hospital at Ft. Meade, at the Whitewood Post & Pole, and at the time of his retirement, was loading foreman at Livestock Energy Systems in Whitewood.

Marvin was a 21-year veteran of the Whitewood Volunteer Fire Department, a Life Member of the Western South Dakota Buckaroos, and an active member of the Head and Heels Roping Club for many years.

Horses were always an important part of Marvin's life. He liked to ride a good horse and he loved to rope. He also enjoyed a good game of pinochle!

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Jean of Whitewood; sons, Doug (Nikki) Keffeler of Watertown, SD, Brian (Debbie) Keffeler of Whitewood; daughter, Sheryl (Emmitt) Pittman of Whitewood; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters, Evelyn Dingeman of Spearfish, and Phyllis (Stanley) Miner of Rapid City; and brother-in-law, Gene Schomer of South Port, FL.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Marlys, Carol, and Beverly.

A memorial has been established.

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