Ramona J. Keller

     Ramona J. Keller, 95, formerly of Pembina, ND passed away peacefully Monday, October 16, 2023 at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, ND. Funeral service will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pembina Pioneer United Methodist Church in Pembina, ND. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will be held on Saturday, October 21st at the Riverside Cemetery in Aberdeen, S.D. at 11:30 a.m.

     On June 15, 1928, a baby girl was born to Esther C. and James L. Wood at the family home in Warner, S.D. She was named Ramona.

      Ramona graduated as the valedictorian of the Warner High School senior class of 1946. She attended SDSU at Brookings for one year before she went to work at Hogue's Market in Aberdeen, S.D.

     She reconnected with her former student teacher, Donald Keller, whom she married on July 5, 1948, in Aberdeen S.D. Ramona worked for about one year until her first child, Judy, was born.

       She then began her career as a lifelong homemaker. Her second child, James, was born in 1952. The family moved to Pembina, N.D. in 1957, when Don became a United States Customs Officer at the Pembina Border Station. Within a year of their move, their third child, Jeffrey, was born in 1958.

       Besides being a dedicated homemaker and excellent cook, Ramona was a devout Christian who taught her children to be of strong moral character. She was a very good bridge player, and she enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren participate in sports, especially basketball.

      She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don in 1987, her son James in 1997, and her five siblings, Royal, Carolyn, Joyce, Beverly, and Donna.

      Ramona is survived by her daughter, Judy (Bill); son Jeff (Lorie); six grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews.

     In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Pembina Pioneer United Methodist Church or the Pembina Rec Department Baseball Program.