Phyllis Rae (Barthel) Keller of Hermiston OR, passed away on July
29, 2014 at the age of 81.
She was born to Carl and Iva Barthel on December 24, 1932 at home
near Amelia, Nebraska.
She graduated from Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri
and was married to Ralph Keller on September 3, 1958 in Burwell, Nebraska. They made their homes in Renton, Washington; Milwaukie, Oregon; and Sandy, Oregon. Upon her husband Ralph’s death, she lived in Sandy, Oregon; Rainier, Oregon and Hermiston, Oregon.
She was a wonderful mother to three daughters; Charlene, born in
1959, Sandra, born in1960, and Vicki, born in 1963.
Prior to starting her family, she taught school near Burwell, Nebraska
and worked at Boeing in Renton, Washington. She was a stay at home mom until the girls reached their teenage years, then she and Ralph bought a restaurant in Carver, Oregon and “Keller’s Kitchen” came into being.
She loved her Lord, her sisters and brothers, daughters, sons-in-law,
grandchildren and great grandchildren and spent as much time as she could with each of them. She loved to write notes and cards to friends and family - her annual Christmas letter was always a highlight. She enjoyed traveling and liked to stop by and visit loved ones. Playing games, food and laughter were always an important part of these visits. She left those she loved with wonderful memories and a godly heritage that will last forever.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Iva Barthel;
sister, Carolyn Mullins; husband, Ralph Keller; and daughter, Vicki
Schneider.
She is survived by her sister, Shirley and Lloyd Lytle of Nebraska;
sister, Virginia and Paul Phillips of Washington; brother, Stanley and
Carlene Barthel of Idaho; brother, Eugene and Reta Barthel of Nebraska;
brother, Rodney and Kathy Barthel of Texas; daughter, Charlene and Kurt Webb of Burwell, Nebraska; daughter, Sandra and Rick England of Hermiston, Oregon. She will be missed by eleven grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Phyllis will be held: Thursday, August 7th at
11:00 am at Hermiston Assembly of God, 730 E. Hurlburt Avenue, Hermiston Oregon 97838 and Saturday, August 9th at 11:00 am at Sandy
Assembly of God, 39800 Highway 26, Sandy, Oregon 97055.