Agnes Claudette Keller

Agnes Claudette Keller

January 21, 1926 - February 8, 2024

Agnes Claudette Keller passed away peacefully at the age of 98.

Agnes was the last surviving child from a family of nine sons and three daughters born to John and Elizabeth Bruner, who farmed near Drake, North Dakota. Her father, John, immigrated to America from Austria and Elizabeth's parents immigrated from Germany and Russia.

Mom's sister Katie remembered Mom being taken by a horse drawn sleigh to be baptized at Blumenfeld, a nearby prairie church. Mom often recalled living and working on the farm, and had many fond memories of her childhood and siblings. She loved going to school and despite a profound hearing loss, was a good student; her favorite subjects being English and history. Mom graduated in 1944, then worked at a local bank before she married our father, Jack Keller in 1947. Dad gained employment in Albany, Oregon, so this city became their home. Soon after, Dad's older children Loretta and Stan, traveled by train from North Dakota to make a home with Mom and Dad and Rod, Rickey, Randy, Jackie and Jolene were born in the following years.

Mom kept the books for Dad's business, and in addition was an excellent homemaker. She kept an immaculate house and was a wonderful cook and bread baker. With her talent for storytelling and writing, she showered us with stories all our lives. We looked forward to our birthday and Christmas cards where she often had a witty poem included.

She was a welcoming hostess, opening her home for holidays, family gatherings, reunions and summer visitors. She baked delicious cinnamon rolls, pies, cookies, bread and German specialities like fat noodles. Mom felt Oregon was the land of plenty and her pantry reflected that with rows of jars of home canned vegetables, fruits, pickles and preserves.

She enjoyed reading, card games and traveling with Dad, especially by car. They visited many relatives, friends and places in the US, Canada and Mexico. They also traveled to Japan and Singapore and made several trips to Europe both for pleasure and to do research on the genealogy of the large Keller and Bruner families. Mom spent many years (before websites made it easier) to create family genealogy books complete with photos, important dates and wonderful family stories.

She was a deeply loved grandmother, opening her home to grands and great-grands, and keeping it stocked with their favorite toys, games and snacks and attending as many of their sports and activities as possible. St. Mary's has been Mom and Dad's parish home since 1947 and Mom deeply missed not being able to attend Mass during Covid and in the years following due to her health and age.

Mom's family includes her daughter Loretta Stark (George Beutner) and her children Julie Stark, Sandra Gannett, Dan, John and Matthew Stark, son Stan Keller (Iryna) and his children Colette Heiman, Doug and Craig Keller, son Rod Keller (Barbara) and their daughter Kelly Tidwell, son Randy Keller and his children Heather DeBolt, Scott Keller and Brittany Rinehart, daughter Jackie Cray (Jack) and their sons Jackson and Jacob Cray and daughter Jolene Kobayashi (Nobuo). Together, Mom and Dad had fourteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband Jack Keller and sons Rickey and Randy Keller.

A Rosary prayer service will be held Friday, February 16, at 10:30 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Willamette Memorial Park. AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements. (www.aasum-dufour.com)