L. Sean Key

1958 - 2025

L Sean Key

October 24, 1958 - March 24, 2025

Loren "Sean" Key was born October 24, 1958, at Mercy Hospital in Williston, ND. He attended Catholic and public schools, served as WHS Student Body President and as ND State Student Council. Sean was honored to be the class speaker at his high school graduation and at all of his 1976 WHS Class Reunions thereafter. Sean attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1980 with a BSc. degree in Computer Science. He served as president of the UND Computer Science Club and was named 1980 Outstanding Student in Computer Science. After graduating, he worked as a programmer for the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, but soon returned to Williston to work with his father to computerize the family's oil property documents. He became a knowledgeable oil and gas landman and title man. He and his brother formed The KEY Company, Inc., a custom programming company, and was instrumental in developing the first LAND system for the Williams County Recorder. In 1992, Sean joined Gaffaney's of Williston as a tech consultant and designed networks for Williston State College, the Williston Police Department, and other local businesses. In 1997, Sean joined Catholic Health Initiatives as the Director of Information Technology to lead the facility through Y2K.

In 2003, Sean was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), an autoimmune disease which destroys the liver's bile duct system. In 2006, Sean's sister, Theresa, responded by donating 70% of her liver to extend Sean's life. Sean's case was only the 58th living donor liver transplant performed at Mayo Clinic. Sean's resilience after his transplant was an inspiration. He relocated to Fargo after assuming additional Regional IT responsibility for critical access hospitals across North and South Dakota, and Minnesota. On June 27, 2015, Loren Sean Key and Norma Jean (Fettig) Dockter were united in marriage in Fargo. Their union gave rise to four blended families and six grandchildren who lovingly referred to him as Papa Sean. In 2021, Sean retired as the national CIO within the Fargo Division after a 25-year career with Catholic Health.

Sean forged lasting friendships through mutual interests in photography, books, music, travel and sports (UND Fighting Sioux hockey, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Twins), and other interests. He and friends designed a board game, "Total Depth," as a fun and challenging spin on Monopoly based on the oil industry business strategies. He served on the United Way Board, and the Fort Union Association Board of Directors serving as president for his third and final term. Sean will mostly be remembered as a gifted landscape photographer. He first bought a camera to document his life as a liver transplant recipient and later became adept at capturing the Northern Prairie in beautiful images. As one of his critics wrote: "Photography was a passion that defined his life. He had an extraordinary eye for detail and composition, which set him apart in a crowded field... [He turned] everyday scenes into extraordinary works of art."

On March 24, 2025, our beloved Sean died under the care of Hospice after a lengthy decline in health. He was an inherently intelligent and intentional man with a kind soul and a penchant for diligence, and has left a significant void in the lives of those who knew him and who loved him. Sean's life will be celebrated on Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Williston, ND. The public is invited to all events. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to The Gift of Life Transplant House, Rochester, MN, or Sanford Hospice House, Fargo, ND. Sean's family would like to thank the capable staff of Mayo Clinic in Rochester who helped him so greatly over the years, as well as the kind and knowledgeable staff who demonstrated excellence and compassion at the Sanford Hospice House in Fargo. We are eternally grateful.

A tribute wall, list of survivors and order of events for July 12 are available on the Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home website: www.eversonfh.com.