Obituary: Keck, Arline Ivey
Arline was born in New England, ND, on June 22, 1922.
She was the third of eight children born to Elmer and Frieda Stafford.
She grew up on the family’s homestead where she helped with the farming chores and raising her younger siblings.
She even herded sheep, carrying a gun to ward off marauding coyotes.
During the Depression, the family home burned down, and they lived for an extended time in a granary on the farm.
She graduated valedictorian of her senior class from New England High School and went on to receive an accounting degree from Bismark Business College.
She had an adventurous spirit and ventured out, on her own, to Spokane where she got a job as the bookkeeper for the USO Club at Geiger Field during WWII.
She loved to dance and was known to do a mean jitterbug.
She met her future husband, Alvin Keck, at one of those dances.
A Texas native, he was stationed in Spokane prior to being sent to Okinawa.
They were married on June 10, 1944, and had four children.
While raising her active family, she worked as the secretary/treasurer for the Morgan Acres Water District.
She went on to work for many years at both Deaconess and Holy Family Hospitals.
Arline’s love of learning and adventuring spirit were evident throughout her life.
She was active in her church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, an Adult Bible Study leader, and a church organist.
She was a Cub Scout Troup Leader, and she also volunteered at Lutheran Services, working with its adoption agency.
She had a heart for those in need and was always taking care of the sick and aged.
She also volunteered in the commitment courts at Eastern State Hospital and assisted with occupational therapy for patients.
In her later years, she worked as a reading tutor for children at Arlington Elementary School.
After retiring, she spent many years in her favorite profession: being an amazing grandmother to her four grandchildren whom she dearly loved.
She had many interests.
She especially loved to camp and travel.
After retiring, she and Alvin traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
She loved to garden and was known for her beautiful flower garden.
She left her family with a legacy of laughter, learning, adventure, faith, and love.
She will be greatly missed.
Arline was preceded in death by her sisters, Elgene Turner, Lubbock, TX; June Hodge, Buffalo, NY; and her brothers, Elmer “Bud” Stafford, Spearfish, SD; and Lawrence Stafford, New England, ND.
She is survived by her husband, Alvin Keck; her sisters, Margorie Evans, Bismark, ND; Marion Hartman, Brandon, SD, and Glorianne Tenbrock, Rapid City, SD; her children, Gary Keck (Ping) of Las Vegas, Patsy Marshall (Duane) Spokane, Stephen Keck (Becky) Spokane, and Janice Weyte, Seattle; her grandchildren, Aaron Keck, Jennifer Knutson, Sarah Keck, and Lindsay Marshall; and her great-grand- children, Ellenore Rohl, Cody Halvorsen, and Eli Keck.
A service celebrating Arline’s life will be held at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home, 1306 North Monroe, Spokane, Monday, February 4, 2013, at 1:00 pm.
Donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.