Keith Alquist

KEITH E. ALQUIST died February 19, 2013 at Mercy Regional Health Center, Manhattan, KS at the age of 88. He was born on May 12, 1924 in Clay County Kansas, the son of Emery and Kate Elizabeth (Lyne) Alquist. Keith lived through the Great Depression and drought on the 1930's. After graduating from CCCHS in 1942 he joined the Merchant Marines. He served in WWII as a Merchant Marine on Liberty ships from 1942 until 1945 and had many stories to tell about serving during those turbulent times. Keith attended Kansas State University on the GI Bill after the war and eventually bought a farm north of Morganville in the late 40's. He married Gyla Martin Brownell in 1949 and farmed there until the fall of 1956 while working part time at Gas City. In 1956 he accepted and offer from Northern Natural Gas Company to move to Baker City, OR to help finish a new pumping station. He accepted this offer due to the drought happening in 1954 and the continued poor farming conditions. In 1957 Northern Natural moved him to Sumas, WA to help open the first pumping station into Canada. After owning and operating Hometown Hardware in Ferndale, WA, a decision was made to return to Kansas and take over the farming operations since his father, Emery, was ready to retire. In 1963, the family moved back to Clay Center and Keith followed in the spring of 1964. He had worked several years as an able bodied seaman on the Alaskan Standard serving many ports in the Aleutian Islands. After a divorce from his first wife in 1966, Keith married Ruth Hickok May 28, 1969. For the last 50 years, Keith has farmed north-east of Clay Center near Green, KS. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, BPOE, Masonic Lodge, ISIS Shrine and Lions Club, Keith served on the Clay County Hospital Board and was on the Farmers Union Cooperative Assn. Board. He also helped to build the Milford Lake Dam and the football stadium at Kansas State University. Keith is preceded in death by his parents, Emery 1966, and Kate 1981, brother Wayne Alquist (USAF) 1945, sons Bobby Brownell 1953, sister Lillian Gilbert 2002, wife Ruth 2004, son Phillip 2006, and grandson, David Newsome 2007. Keith was the descendent of Kansas pioneering families of Alquist’s, Lyne’s and Schiffmann’s some of whom first traveled across Kansas in 1849. Eventually settling in the Clay County and surrounding areas in the 1860's and 1870's. Survivors include: Daughter: Connie Newsome, Sedro Woolley, WA Son: Keith Alquist, II and wife Julie , Brighton, CO Son: Jim and wife Laura Smith, Topeka, KS Son: Bill and wife Janet Smith, Salina, KS Daughter: Patricia Halstead, Clay Center, KS Son: Eric and wife Michelle Alquist, Clay Center, KS Daughter: Christine and husband Brady Sauder, Manhattan, KS 16 Grandchildren and 6 Great Grandchildren Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Clay Center, Kansas. Officiating the service will be Rev. Larry Myers. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery, Clay Center, Kansas. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 22, 2013 from 3-8pm with family greeting friends from 4-6pm at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Meadowlark Hospice or the Clay County Hospital Foundation c/o the funeral home.