Blair Keetch, 58, passed away on Jan. 8, 2011, at his home in Malta, Idaho, following a valiant battle with cancer and its complications for the past several months.
Blair was born in Montpelier on Sept. 22, 1952, to Golden and Jean Keetch. He lived with his family of four brothers and two sisters on a cattle farm/ranch in Wardboro where he learned his work ethic of “an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.”
Blair graduated from Bear Lake High School in 1970 where he was active in Future Farmers of America with a pastime of chauffeuring the JV?cheerleaders to their games. He continued his education at ISU in Pocatello in the Vo-tech School for Mechanics, graduating in Dec. of 1971 with top honors. He then moved to Malta, Idaho, where he worked with his brother, Gordon, at Interstate Feeder, Inc. He has been going in that direction ever since.
On Feb. 20, 1993, Blair gave up his 13 years of devoted singleness to marry his high school sweetheart, Teresa Barnson (who was a JV cheerleader). They were sealed in the Logan LDS Temple for time and all eternity on June 24, 1995.
For the past 26 years, Blair has owned and operated “Chaparrel and Co.”—custom/hauling agricultural products and livestock all over the west.
For 10 years, Blair and Teresa built their lives together in Burley where Blair continued to truck while Teresa owned and operated a daycare. This is where Blair was introduced to and fell in love with small children. Being a “dad” was his favorite job. His pride and joy were his children, Chris and Trisha (from a previous marriage), and his bonus family, Nicholas, Marcus and Hallie.
In 2002, Blair moved his family (then Teresa and Hallie) to Malta where he built his truck shop and terminal for expanding his trucking company of six semi’s and various trailers. He added a small feed lot, a herd of cows, calving pasture and corrals. Life seemed so good. Then in 2008, Blair’s health began to deteriorate, which restricted many of his activities, but he always displayed a smile and cheerful attitude regardless of the pain. He was so grateful for the important things in his life — love, family, the Gospel and his little corner in Malta, which he called his heaven on earth.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Blair served faithfully as a Primary and SundaySchool teacher with his wife. He was also a member of the Sunday School Presidency and a counselor in his High Priest Presidency in the Malta First Ward. His first love, though, was the seven years he spent as a nursery leader.
Blair believed in supporting the youth of the church and their programs of 4-H, AG, athletics, drama, the renaissance program, school carnivals and Scouting. He helped in all community fundraisers, benefits and projects.
Blair is survived by the “love of his life,” his wife, Teresa, his son, Chris (Shannon) Keetch, his daughter, Trisha (Bart) Moultrie and Nicholas (Amy) Ramsey, Marcus (Rebekah) Ramsey and Hallie (Brandon) Stokes, 10 adoring grandchildren and four brothers, Gordon (Betty) Keetch, Lynn (Rowleen) Keetch, Dan (Debbie) Keetch and Val (Lori) Keetch, many nieces and nephews, one sister-in-law, Annette Barnson, Cyndie (Jim) Birch, and parents-in-law, Glenn and Mary Jean Barnson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Golden and Jean Keetch, sister, Sandra, sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Kirk Skinner, brother-in-law, David Barnson and niece and nephew, Jenny and Andy Barnson.
Funeral services will be held Jan. 15 at noon in the Montpelier Stake Center. Viewings will be held Jan. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th Street, Burley, Idaho, and from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. prior to the services.
Interment will be in the Montpelier City Cemetery.