Robert Leslie Keyes

Robert L. Keyes passed away Saturday, February 20, 2016. Bob was born in 1919, in Minneapolis, MN to Dr. Leslie S. Keyes and Leila Keyes. He graduated from West High School in Minneapolis. He attended Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, and then Babson College, Boston, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1940. He returned to Minneapolis where he was employed with the Russell-Miller Milling Co. and then with Pillsbury Flour Mills. In May, 1943 he married Anabel A. Knatvold in Minneapolis. He served in the US Navy from 1944 through 1946. He returned to Pillsbury in Minneapolis and subsequently transferred to the Omaha Grain Exchange, Omaha, NE. In 1951, Bob and his family moved to San Francisco, CA where he was the manager for a grain and feed brokerage. Then Bob managed the office in the grain merchandising division of ADM Company. In 1957, he joined Farmers Union Marketing Assn.-Denver. In 1962, he began with the then Potato Growers Coop of Eaton, CO as Director of Grain Marketing which included the Feed Mill. The name AGLAND, Inc. became the new name in a contest held in 1967 and Bob submitted the winning name. His wife of 28 years, Anabel, died in 1971. In 1972 he married Helen Nelson Billings. Bob retired from Agland, Inc. of Eaton in September of 1985 after 24 years. From 1985 to 2008, he continued to use his knowledge and skills in the grain buying field as he became the feed buyer for Mountain View Lamb Feeders Inc. based in Severance, CO. His wife, Helen, died in 2001 after 29 years of marriage. Bob held numerous leadership positions both professionally and in the community. Professionally, he was active in the Colorado Grain and Feed Assn. for many years and served as a director on a variety of committees. He was elected president in 1976. He was also a member of the National Grain and Feed Assn. and served on several committees. Bob was president of the former Credit Bureau of Northern Colorado. In the community, Bob was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Greeley where he served for 17 years as treasurer and a member of the church council. He became a member of the Swedish Heritage Society through his wife's, Helen, association in the organization. He served as director as well as president. He liked to say that he became an honorary Swede. Beginning in 1987, Robert researched the family heritage of the Keyes and Burwell family. This project lasted 12 years and followed the legacy of the Keyes family arriving from England to Massachusetts in about 1630 and the Burwell family who were given a grantee of public lands from King James is 1607 in the original Jamestown, VA area. Mr. Keyes is survived by his daughters, Margaret K. Farrell (Thomas) of Minneapolis MN, Jane K. Shouse (Blair) of St. Louis, MO; stepdaughters, Linda York of Saratoga, WY, Dorothy Lehman (Robert) of Greeley, CO; and stepson, Gary Billings (Charlotte) of Windsor, CO. He enjoyed being a grandpa to 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives; and his older brother, Dr. Burwell S. Keyes. The funeral will take place Wednesday, February 24, at 10:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1865 14th Avenue, Greeley. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in the names of Anabel K. Keyes and Helen N. Keyes to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1865 14th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631.