Denise Keller

Denise Dady Keller, age 98, of Maple Grove, Minnesota passed away on Friday, February 26, 2021, shortly before her 99th birthday.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Sisseton, South Dakota with Fr. Gregg Frankman Celebrant.

Interment will be in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Sisseton. Pallbearers will be Tom Keller, Ryan Blachfelner, Sam Lemke, Max Lemke, Darius Kleine and Sawyer Kleine.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the church.

Born March 22, 1922 to John Max and Helen (Wolff) Dady in Sisseton, SD. Denise graduated from Northern State Teachers’ College in Aberdeen, SD and began teaching in Summit, SD. During WWII, Denise moved to Hollywood, CA and worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. After the war, she returned to the Midwest and married Robert R (Bobby) Keller in 1946. Together they had three wonderful sons, Robert, David and Tommy.

In 1955, Denise taught at Holy Rosary and then at St. Anne’s Catholic Schools. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota, receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1965, and accepted a full-time teaching position at Park Brook Elementary in Brooklyn Park, MN, and taught for 29 years. In 1973, Denise received national recognition as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America for her achievements and accomplishments in her classroom and community for Osseo School District 279. In addition to teaching, she was an active in her parish, St Alphonsus, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society.

Denise resided in Brooklyn Park, MN until her health declined and in 2020 moved to the Beehive Homes in Maple Grove where she received extraordinary care and comfort until she passed away. She will be remembered for her elegant style, kindness, faith and life-long learning.

Denise was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bobby, son David Keller, brothers James (Fonty) Dady and Jack Dady, sister Maxine (Ober) Torvik, and brother-in-law Andy (Verena) Freeborn.

Denise is survived by her sons, Robert (Sue) and Tom (Valerie) Keller, grandchildren, Eleanor (Tom) Seifert, Kathy Blachfelner, Greg Keller, Amy Keller, Nancy (Matt) Novak, and Zach Keller; great-grandchildren, Tom Keller, Ryan Blachfelner, Grace Lemke, Sam Lemke, Max Lemke, Darius Kleine, Sawyer Kleine, Nick Novak, Caroline Novak, and Josie Keller, sister-in-law, Sharon Dady, as well as many nieces and nephews.