Franklin Delbert Keeble Sr.

Services for Franklin Delbert Keeble, Sr., 89, Máto Sapa "Black Bear" will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Community Center, Agency Village, SD with Pastor Vern Donnell and Pastor Nippy Owen officiating. Special music by True Country. Pallbearers will be Jerome Renville Jr., Jerry Renville, Dallas Keeble, Dusty Renville, Mason Kohl, Darien Benson, Gerald German Jr., and Todd St. John. Honorary Pallbearers will be Tom & Elena Wilson, Donald Backman, Tim White, Richard Bird, Edwina Bernard, Patrick Adams Jr., Clifford Chanku, Vern Crawford, Lorraine German & Family; Tiospa Zina Staff and all past Clients at Dakotah Pride. All night Wake Service will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Community Center, Agency Village, SD. Interment will be in the Keeble Family Cemetery, Grenville, South Dakota with Military Rites by Kit Fox Society. The Cahill Funeral Chapel Is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Franklin Delbert Keeble Sr. was born January 4, 1934 at Grenville, South Dakota to Jonas Keeble Sr. and Stella Sherman Keeble. Franklin has 6 brothers Jonas Jr., James, Henry, Willis, Richard and Russell Keeble, Seven sisters Lydia, Josie Helm, Ada Adell, Louise and Harriet. Franklin Married Connie St. John in 1953 to this marriage they had 2 children Donovan and Julie Ann. Franklin worked with his uncles and father on construction doing rock masonry building homes, boathouses, fireplaces, and stone walls throughout South Dakota and North Dakota. He was drafted into the service in 1956 served in the 3rd Army Medic Core, 5th Evac hospital in Fort Bragg NC and was honorably discharged in 1957 and was in the reserves. He went back to work in cement finishing and welding. He married Loretta Renville in 1968 to this marriage they had Franklin Jr., Paul, Boyd and 3 daughters Daphne, Leta, Sandra. He raised his step-children that he loved as his own son Jerome and daughters Cheryl, Lila and Gladys. In 1972 went to mechanic school. After completing school he went to work for Gills repair and later Vic's repair. In 1976 Franklin's drinking worsened. It complicated his life, ended with divorce. Alcohol almost took his life. In 1980 he gave his life to Jesus and went into treatment at Dakotah Pride and got involved in AA to help others and himself. He also served as a chairman on Dakota Pride Advisory Board. In 1981 he met Juanitta Wise and married they had one son Billy Jo Keeble that they raised. Franklin and Juanitta loved country music and gospel songs and were the founders of Sobriety dances for Dakotah Pride, and formed a band called Prairie Winds. Juanitta passed away in 2014. She was a great singer and a good mother. In 1984 Franklin started worked at Tiospa Zina for 32 years as a head custodian. When the new bus barn was built, it was in his honor because he was one of the first bus drivers for Tiospa Zina and was chosen twice for Grand Marshal. Franklin retired in 2015. He kept up his love for music and played with many musicians at jamborees and events. He was not much for singing. But he was a good Bass guitar player. He played for many years and was inducted into the South Dakota Country Music Hall Of Fame Sept 2, 2018 at the South Dakota State Fair at Huron SD. In 2020 Franklin and his wife Juanitta were inducted into the country legend Hall Of Fame. It's sad that didn't happen when Juanitta was alive. Franklin went on to play with other bands. His wife always wanted him to sing and that's what he did. Franklin always wanted to live at Pickeral Lake where he grew up. That dream came true, Franklin and Juanitta made this home theirs in 2000 and raised some horses that he always loved. His wife loved to plant flowers and the yard looked beautiful. They enjoyed this life living at Pickeral Lake. Franklin looked on himself to take care of the Keeble Family Cemetery and kept it mowed and looking nice. Franklin passed away on March 19, 2023 at Prairies Lakes Hospital, Watertown, SD.
Franklin is survived by his children, Donovan Keeble of Sisseton, SD, Julie Ann Watts of Sisseton SD, Paul Keeble of Sisseton, SD, Boyd Keeble of Sisseton, SD, Daphne Garland of Sisseton, SD, Cheryl Renville of Sisseton, SD, Lila Renville of Sisseton, SD, Gladys Renville of Watertown SD, and Billy Jo Keeble of Grenville, SD; one brother, Jonas Keeble of Sisseton, SD; and one sister, Harriet Keeble of Watertown, SD; many many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Franklin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Juanitta Keeble; two sons Franklin Keeble Jr and Jerome Renville Sr.; three daughters, Sandra Keeble, Sandra Renville, Leta Keeble; 5 brothers, Willis, James, Henry, Russell, and Paul; four sisters, Harriet Eagle, Josephine Wagner, Lydia St. John and Helen Keeble.