GALATIA — Leland Benjamin Keil, 83, died May 29  at Hays Medical Center.
Born on Aug. 13, 1928 on the Keil farmstead three miles north of Galatia in Barton County, he was the son of Bertha Strecker and Benjamin Keil.
He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Milberger. He had six sisters, Lucille, Elsie, Clarnetta, Thelma, Fern and Alean and three brothers, Clarence, Glenn and Wayne. The family lived three miles north of Galatia on the Keil Farm. Leland is a graduate of Russell High School in Russell County. He went on to St. John’s College in Winfield where he graduated with an associate’s degree in business. Leland worked in the oil field in the early 1950s and has been a life-long farmer near Galatia. He also received his bachelor’s degree in business from Park University and was employed by the Galatia COOP for 20 years.
Leland and Roberta June Ramsey were married on Sept. 8, 1950 at First Christian Church in Great Bend. They lived in Russell and Great Bend before moving to the Keil Farm in 1955. They lived on the farm until 1977 at which time they moved to Galatia.
Survivors include his wife, Roberta Keil of the home; two sons, Mike Keil and wife Barb of Topeka and David Keil and wife Becky, Keil Farmstead in Galatia; three daughters, Barbara Sue Menninga and husband Leroy of Wichita, Becky Money and husband Andy of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Kristy Scheck and husband Lloyd of Great Bend; a brother, Glen Keil three sisters, Thelma, Fern and Alean; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Wayne Keil and Clarence Keil; and three sisters, Clarnetta, Lucille and Elsie.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Galatia with Pastor Adam Wutka officiating. Burial will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Galatia. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, with a prayer service 7 p.m., all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, June 1, 2012