Richard Eugene Keenan

Richard E. Keenan

A memorial service for Richard Eugene Keenan, age 75 of Lusk, will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, 1998, at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds Auditorium.

Mr. Keenan died very suddenly at his home on Thursday, January 29, 1998. Dick was born July 9, 1922 to Henry J. and Goldie (Hill) Keenan at the ranch home north of Glenrock, Wyo. He graduated from school in Glenrock. He trapped and hunted rabbits and coyotes for spending money as a young man with his brothers. Times were not easy.

Dick joined the Navy on September 23, 1942. He served at the Armed Guard Center (Pacific), the USS Central Victory and circled the world during his service which included sailing through the Persian Gulf. He received these medals: The Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Dick was honorably discharged as a Gunner's Mate 2nd Class on December 17, 1945. He is a member of American Legion Post #0017 in Glenrock.

Dick then worked at the Continental Refinery in Glenrock until it shut down about 1954. All the time, his desire was to have good saddle horses and eventually a herd of cattle. Dick was not a church-going man, but had a deep respect for his elders and for right and wrong.

On May 16, 1952 Dick married Dorothy Carpenter at the Methodist Church in Douglas, Wyo. In 1954, they moved near her parents in Amelia, Nebraska and ranched there until moving to the Fullerton Jireh ranch near Manville, WY in 1965, where they have resided since. In 1996 they sold their commercial herd of crossbred cattle to concentrate efforts on the registered Angus, and were preparing for their 4th Annual Bull Sale, to be February 19th. They had purchased a small place north of Lusk, expecting to retire there and play with a select few of their Angus cows.

Dick always wanted good horses, and during his time enjoyed more than his share of them. One of his favorite pastimes, when ranching allowed, was leather tooling and braiding. He loved to read and his book collection included a full set of the Will James collection. The Keenans did not travel, but traveled through their many friends and visitors over the years and enjoyed them immensely.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents and one sister. He is survived by his wife; one son Ken and his wife Linda, their children Valerie, Mysty and Chance of Manville and daughter Delores and husband John Max of Colorado Springs, CO; two brothers, Robert and Joe of Glenrock; three nieces, one nephew and their families; plus other relatives and many cherished friends.

In lieu of flowers, any memorials to the Hospice Chapter of America in care of the Richard Keenan family would be appreciated. Bader Funeral Home of Lusk is in charge of arrangements.

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