Rusty Keller

Irvin Neil "Rusty" Keller, 77, of Rigby, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2013, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.

He was born July 19, 1935, in Rigby to Irvin William Keller and Birdie Marie Bills Keller. He was raised and attended schools in the Rigby and Clark areas.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959.

He was married to Connie Swensen from Oct. 4, 1961, to October of 1981. He then married Chris Stewart; they were later divorced. On Nov. 21, 1989, he married Debra Monson in Elko, Nev.; they later divorced.

He worked for Challenge Dairy; Logan Farm Equipment in Idaho Falls and Plover, Wis.; Ricks College in Rexburg; for Ray Miles as a horse trainer; and for Foster Cattle. He was also self-employed, shoeing horses, welding, training race horses and working as an outfitter.

Rusty was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was involved in the Eastern Idaho State Fair, overseeing the light horses, volunteered in horse 4-H and spent countless hours helping his son and daughter prepare for horse shows, high school rodeos and queen contests, judging and outriding.

He enjoyed hunting, photography, and reloading and riding.

He is survived by his daughters, KayLyn (Mike) Lovell of Idaho Falls, Debbie Lou "Punks" (Dave) Burgess of Soldotna, Alaska; son, Rusty Don "RD" (Debbie) Keller of Pocatello; sisters, Ella Mae (Ivan) Bruderer of Auburn, Wyo., Marjean (Lynn) Doody of Tacoma, Wash., and Joyce (Gary) Jenks of Idaho Falls; brother, Dwain Keller of Rigby; and grandchildren, Logan Kade Thompson and Jessica Lyn Thompson, both of Idaho Falls.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Gary Jenks.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Clark Ward LDS Chapel, 198 N. 4300 East in Rigby, with Bishop Kent Rolfe conducting. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 W. Main St. in Rigby, and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Thursday prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Rigby Pioneer Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com. Rusty's family extends a special thanks to the staff and residents of Turtle & Crane in Idaho Falls for the loving and compassionate services given to Rusty.