Keith J. Kolling, 63, Dickinson, died peacefully Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at his home. Keith’s Liturgy of Word Service will be at 11 a.m., Monday, January 13, 2025 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Deacon Bob Zent presiding. Interment will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
After many years of separation Keith Joseph Kolling was joyfully reunited with his mother and father, Anna E. and Joseph G. Kolling, and went into the arms of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Keith was born on December 17, 1961, in Dickinson. Keith’s first educational experience was at Ancourage School in the basement of the Presbyterian Church which was funded by The Arc of Dickinson prior to entering the public school system at Central Grade School and graduated from Dickinson High School. Keith worked at The Arc Aid Thrift Shop every Thursday afternoon for thirty-two years.
Keith was the youngest of sixteen children. However, he would let you know that he never sucked a bottle and never wore diapers. That was for babies and Mike was the baby. Keith would acknowledge that he was the youngest and number one, never a baby. Keith was everyone’s favorite. There was no doubt about that. He grew up in a loving and protected environment. He loved his family unconditionally and family friends were his friends.
Keith participated in Special Olympics and loved to bowl. He won more trophies and medals then you could fit on a shelf, but he made them fit. Nobody dared move them because he would know. He carried more than one coin purse in his pocket because you never wanted to run out of pop money. Every night he would empty his pockets of all his trinkets. In the morning those trinkets went back in his pocket in a specific order known only to him. On his birthday his wallet would get fat with one dollar bills not fives, tens, or twenties; ones were the best because there were so many. More than once he was asked “what’s in your pockets” and he would start showing off his trinkets. Viking Football, WWE Wrestling, Daniel O’Donnell Specials, Big Jo Polka, and Lawrence Welk were a must on his list of TV viewing. Did we forget to mention his love of practical jokes such as putting a rubber snake in Mom’s silverware drawer? He truly believed that if a woman ate marshmallows she would get pregnant, and of course, he would offer his young married sisters and sisters-in-law marshmallows so they would have more babies he could love. Unmarried women were forbidden to eat marshmallows. He would scramble to remove them from their reach and/or their grasp. He enjoyed playing Uno and don’t get us started on charades (playing a dead fish or a dead cow) totally hilarious.
Keith loved going on trips with family whether it was going to a Vikings game where he would rev up the crowd or just four wheeling and/or fishing at the lake. He went on road trips to Ohio, Michigan, and Washington DC. Every trip was an adventure and the best part was that there was family at each destination who would happily embrace him and take him on new adventures.
Keith, “you are the best brother ever”. God blessed us with your birth and God took you home. Rest in peace, we will love you forever.
Keith is survived by four sisters, Julie (Frank) Hatzenbuhler, Eleanor Dietrick, Audrey (Tim) Kelsey, and Pamela Kolling; three brothers, Francis, Elmer (Dolly), and Michael (Connie). Keith is also survived by many, many, nieces and nephews who were dearly loved by Keith.
He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph G. Kolling; his mother, Anna E. (Riesinger) Kolling; three sisters, Liz Joslyn, Deborah Rivers, and Sharleen Kolling; five brothers, Clarence, George, Lester, Jerry, and Allen; two sisters-in-law, Alice (Greff) Kolling and Marlene (Haas) Kolling; and multiple nieces and nephews.
