Garnett L. Keena

Garnett Keena, 94, of Dell Rapids, formerly of Colman, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2020 at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center. Memorial visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2020 at Kahler-Brende Funeral Home. Garnett’s Memorial Service will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at Kahler-Brende Funeral Home.

Garnett L. Keena was born on August 31, 1925 in Colman, SD to Elmer and Christine (Jensen) Ottoson. Garnett grew up on the family farm and attended a country school. She graduated from Chester High School in 1943 and attended Dakota State University for her freshman year of college. After high school, she traveled to California to take care of an aunt. When she returned home, she went to work as a car hop at a drive in diner in Sioux Falls where she met her husband, Don Keena.  Garnett married Donald Keena on May 31, 1950 in Sioux Falls. In 1952, they moved to their farm south of Colman where she lived until 2016 when she moved to Orchard Hills. In 1962, Garnett and Don welcomed their daughter, Carolyn Kay in Sioux Falls, SD. Garnett began working for Dornberger Insurance Company in 1968 selling crop insurance when Carolyn started elementary school.

Garnett died on July 27th, 2020 at Dells Area Nursing and Rehab. She was 94 and was preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents, and two brothers, Kenneth and Gerald Ottoson.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dell Rapids where she was head of the White Cross for many years. She enjoyed gardening, tending to her many flowers, and spending time with her family.

Grateful for having shared her life is her daughter, Carolyn (Dean) Van Heerde of Chester; two grandchildren, Kelley (Nick) Gruneich of Dell Rapids and Tyler (Megan) Van Heerde of Sioux Falls; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Emma and Evan Gruneich and Tate Van Heerde; niece and great-niece, Arlowene Hogate of Madison and Tami Holgate of Georgia.

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