Keith O'Dell Rhoades

KEITH O'DELL RHOADES Keith O'Dell Rhoades was called home to Jesus on June 7, 2025. Keith was born on August 28, 1936, in Ashland, Kansas to Annie (Hughs) and Era Rhoades. Keith was preceded in death by his wife, Susan, his parents, and his six siblings, Russell, Sylvia (McBrayer), George, Virgil, Lewis, and Curtis. Keith is survived by his three children, Marc (Denise), Eric (Tammy), and Stacey, and his seven grandchildren, Joshua, Justin (Ellissa), Tori (Dylan) Marks, Lindsay (Anthony) Christopher, Hannah (Matt) Drummond, Mollie (Matt) Floyd and Wesley, along with eleven great-grandchildren. Following graduation from Eureka High School in 1954, Keith enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed a two-year duty assignment in the Light Infantry as a communications specialist. Keith was stationed in Germany for the majority of his military service. Upon his return home, Keith used the G.I. Bill to attend Emporia State University for three semesters and then Kansas State University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in architecture. He worked his way through college by working at "filling stations" during the school year and on oil wells during the summers. While at Emporia State, Keith met his wife, Susan Schmidt. They were married on January 30, 1960. Keith's first architectural position took him and his young family (Susan and his infant son, Marc) to Garden City. After several years there, Keith took a position with a firm in Wichita and they settled in Newton. In the late 1960s, Keith joined several architects and engineers to form The Law Kingdon Company, a design-build firm in Wichita, where Keith would work as the Director of Production and traveled extensively across the country working primarily on shopping mall design projects. In 1976, Keith left LK to open his own firm in Newton. In 1992, he joined the Wilson, Darnell, Mann firm in Wichita. Keith retired in 2000. He absolutely loved his work as an architect and enjoyed each day he was able to practice his craft. Keith volunteered in the Newton community for many years. He served in the Newton Jaycees and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He was also active with the local Habitat for Humanity. Keith was a member of the Bethel College Mennonite Church, serving on several committees and as an usher once a month. He also volunteered at the Kauffman Museum. Keith's parents were farmers. He started milking cows by hand at the age of 5 with his father, a daily activity that lasted through his early teen years. Even after starting his professional career, he was drawn to the land and farming. He considered it a great joy to join Gary Sneed, David Fritz, and several other partners in a ranching endeavor in the Flint Hills where they established and operated Coyne Creek Ranch. Working on the ranch and spending time with Gary and David was particularly rewarding for Keith, especially during his retirement years. Quite simply, Keith loved the Flint Hills and everything about "the Hills." Family and friends were important to Keith. Shared vacations and time with the Ensz family (Madalyn, John, Lori, David, Liz, Ellen, and their families) produced many wonderful memories. Keith also looked forward to reunions with his Rhoades family, including visits with those in Kansas (brother Curtis, nephews David, Roger, Rick, Kent, and Craig and nieces Cindy, Beth, Judy, and Renee and brother-in-law Mac) and larger reunions with the Rhoades family in Colorado (Dennis, Jennis and Tammy) and Washington state (the Rhoades-Strickland reunion). Keith and Susan also enjoyed time with many of their friends in Newton, whether playing bridge or other card games or hosting outdoor breakfasts in the Flint Hills. The friend group known as the "Beaver Bunch" was especially close and included Lois and Orlando Goertzen, Karen and Larry Penner, and Deane and Marlin Frey. A memorial service will be held at the Bethel College Mennonite Church on Saturday, August 30 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Keith and Susan Rhoades Memorial fund of the Tallgrass Legacy Alliance, 868 Rd 290, Americus, KS., 66835, at www.bit.ly/TLARhoadesMemorial or www.bit.ly/TLADonationForm