Marvin Eugene Ketelhut, 89, of Riverton, Wyoming passed away Saturday, February 3, 2024 at his home. A viewing will take place from 9:00 a.m. until service time at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.
Marvin was born October 2, 1934 in Chamberlain, South Dakota to John and Soyfia Ketelhut at home on the Ketelhut family farm in 1934 and lived in South Dakota for 31 years before moving to Riverton Wyoming in the summer of 1965, where he resided until his passing. He graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1952 and moved on to Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell South Dakota, spending four years acquiring a degree of Bachelor of Arts, graduating in 1956.
Marvin married Mary J. Hague in Highmore, South Dakota on June 20, 1958 at the Methodist Church. He always bragged about being married to the love of his life Marry for over 66 years.
Marvin was baptized in Chamberlain, SD, and was Confirmed at age thirteen. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Riverton.
From 1957 to about 1965 Marvin was a Private E-1 in the United States Army National Guard of Chamberlain, South Dakota. He received his training in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.
Marvin worked as an accountant for a Ford Dealership while he lived in Chamberlain, South Dakota. He then started working at Norris Ford when he moved to Riverton, WY; accumulating over 22 years of service with the Ford Motor Company. After ownership changed, he left Norris Ford and started working for Phil Bush Ford for about three to four years. He then left Ford and started working for Chopping Motor Lease. Finally, he worked for AmeriGas until he retired. After Marvin Retired, he started working part-time underneath Kent and Richard Haun farming. He enjoyed working for them every year cutting hay. He liked to watch the deer out in the fields as he worked. Recently, in the past five years, he was accompanied by his grandson Tristan, who moved pipe out in the field for him. Even at the age of 89 you could find him hard at work driving the swather with his grandson.
Mr. Ketelhut was a member of a community bowling league with his co-worker from Ford. Marvin and Mary love to go square dancing at the Fremont County Fairground weekly. In 1951, Marvin was a pitcher for the American Legion Junior Baseball team of Chamberlain, SD.
Marvin Ketelhut was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman, and enjoyed snowmobiling with his family. He spent almost every weekend during the summer with his wife and kids on the mountain camping. Each fall he successfully harvested an elk. He loved to hunt with his son Kevin, son-in-law Lowel, his grandson Tristan, his brother-in-law, Bob Hague, and Bob’s boys, Bobbie, Randy, and Mike. Marvin was a very hard worker and was always busy doing something. He helped the Hague’s build their cabin and in 1992, Marvin and his son Kevin purchased property on Union Pass and spent the next few years building their cabin together. From 2002 to 2005, Marvin helped his son Kevin build his house. When Marvin sat down, he was either watching football, reading the paper, or working hard to complete his stacks of crossword puzzle books. Marvin enjoyed serving others at the Senior Center and loved to plow snow with his 4-wheeler for everyone in the neighborhood every winter. He wasn’t afraid to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. Marvin was a quiet man, and he loved his family unconditionally. One of his proudest moments was when he became a grandfather to Kevin and Shari's three children. Marvin proudly taught his grandkids how to plant and grow a garden and was their Chauffeur to and from their many activities. Most Sundays, he and Mary took their grandkids to see the cows in Haun fields and look for sandhill cranes. He liked to watch his favorite professional football team the Denver Broncos and his basketball team the Denver Nuggets. He also enjoyed watching the Wyoming Cowboy's College football team.
He is survived by his wife; Mary Ketelhut; son, Kevin E. Ketelhut and his wife, Shari; daughter, Marsha S. Ketelhut Schierkolk; grandchildren. Karissa L. Kercheski and husband Jason Kercheski, Shaylee L. Conner and husband Adam Conner, Tristan J Ketelhut, Josh Kier; great grandchildren, Brooke A. Kercheski, Jake Kier, Jace Kier; brothers, Leroy Ketelhut, and Jerome Ketelhut; nephew, Donnie Ketelhut
He was preceded in death by father John E. Ketelhut; mother, Soyfia Ketelhut; brother Don Ketelhut; grandparents, John and Clara Ketelhut, Merle E. Ketelhut, and Lowel Schierkolk.
On-line condolences may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments.