LaWanda Keller Obituary

    LaWanda C. Keller, 85, of Pine Island, formerly of Bellechester, arrived home in heaven on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015 after a courageous battle with congestive heart failure.
    A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, Oct. 26 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 451 – 5th Street SW, Pine Island. Fr. Randal Kasel celebrated the mass. Burial wass at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Bellechester.
    LaWanda Catherine Keller was born in Minneapolis on Aug. 5, 1930 to Theodore and Lorraine (Hawkins) Pahl. She attended Assumption Catholic grade school and graduated from Bloomington High School in 1948. She worked in bookkeeping for Northwestern Bell Phone Company for seven years. LaWanda married Raymond Keller on May 25, 1955 at Assumption Church in Richfield, Minn. They farmed in Rosemount before moving to Bellechester in 1969, where they farmed and raised nine children. LaWanda and Raymond moved to Pine Island in 1994. Not only was LaWanda a kind, gentle, loving mother and wife, she also gave herself to her church and to her community.  She was active in the Council of Catholic Women, made 14,000 rosaries and school bags for the missions, and sewed cancer pads for Our Lady of Good Counsel Cancer Home.  She was the Red Cross blood drive coordinator for the Pine Island for 20 years.  She was named Volunteer of the Year for the American Auxiliary in 2012. She prayed the rosary faithfully and attended daily mass.  LaWanda enjoyed her grandchildren, playing bingo, sewing and watching western movies.
    When her heart started to fail, she reminded family that God parcels out what he may to those of us on earth. We take what we are given and we do our best.
    LaWanda is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Raymond; sons, Fred (Peggy) Keller of Lake City, Ray (Beth) Keller of Lake City, John Keller of Wanamingo, Henry (Robin) Keller of Lake City, Ted (Lora) Keller of Bellechester; daughters, Rose Keller of Brooklyn Center, Helen (Thad) Gabara of New Providence, N.J., Ann (Ron) Rotondo of Coon Rapids; 38 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; brothers Frank (Donna) Pahl of Minneapolis, Joe (Jeanne) Pahl of Jordan, John (Debbie) Pahl of Wyoming; sisters, Bernice Jensen of Lakeville and Gwen (Larry) Lawrence of Bloomington. She was preceded in death by a  sister, Sr. Kenneth Pahl, O.S.B; son, Michael; grandsons, Jason Keller and Joshua Keller.
    Memorials are preferred to Pro-Life Minnesota, St. Paul Seminary, Red Cross or charity of your choice.