Keith Ivan Ross

Keith Ivan Ross, of Mitchell formerly of Artesian passed away on May 26^th, at Firesteel Nursing Home, in Mitchell at the age of 79 years and 8 months. 

Keith Ivan Ross was born September 24, 1936 to Claude H. and Vera (Seiders) Ross at the home of his grandparents in Ethan, South Dakota.   He was the youngest of five children.   He spent his younger years on his parents’ farm south of Letcher, SD.   In 1942 the family moved to a farm 12 miles south of Artesian, SD.   He attended grade school at the Farwell School, south of Artesian.   He attended high school in Artesian, SD, graduating in 1955.  During his high school years he hired out as a farm laborer for several of the neighbors south of Artesian including Rudy Fiala and Roy Hamm.  

He was drafted into the Army in 1956 and served his basic training at Ft. Smith in Arkansas and went on to medical training at Fort Sam Houston, TX.  He was transferred to Alaska as a Medic and served the rest of his military duty at Fort Richardson, near Anchorage Alaska.

Upon his return home he resumed farming with his parents.   He married Grace Williams on October 12, 1959.  To this union three children were born.   Keith and Grace farmed north of Salem, SD for several years.  In 1968 they moved to a farm south of Artesian where they farmed with his parents until 1973 when they purchased a farm north of Artesian.   Keith returned to live and take care of his Mother after the death of his father and has remained on the family farm until the fall of 2015 when he entered Firesteel Nursing home in Mitchell.  While living south of Artesian he served on the Ravenna township board and filled the post as  Surgeon General for the local VFW  in Mitchell, SD.

He is survived by his two sons Ron (Kazy) Ross of Earleville, MD; Leo (Susan) Ross of Colton, SD;  a daughter, Valorie (Chad) Hilde of San Bernardino, CA; two brothers Ellis LaVern (JoAnn) Ross of Watford City, ND; Glenn Ross of Denver, CO; a sister, Dorothy Learn of Minneapolis, MN; four grandchildren  William (Bill) Ross, Colton, SD; Malinda Ross, Baltimore, MD; Daniel Ross (fiancée, Emily Wellman) of Hartford, SD; and Sidra Hilde of San Bernardino, CA; a sister-in-law Leona Ross of Mitchell, SD; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Vera Ross of Artesian, brother, Clyde (Buck) Ross of Mitchell, brother-in-law, James Learn of Minneapolis, sister-in-law, Iva Ross of Wessington Springs, SD, four nephews, Michael Ross, of Huron, SD,  Ward Ross of Hartford, SD, Dennis Ross of Letcher, SD,   and Chuck Ross of Huron, SD.

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