On December 22, 1936, in a home in rural Edgar Springs, Missouri, a son was born to Melvin and Ida Lee (Lanning) Keeney, Harry Eugene Keeney was welcomed and loved by sisters Freda, Rosemarie and Barbara.
The family lived in Rolla, Missouri, where Harry graduated from Rolla High School in 1955. Upon graduation he joined the Air Force and was ultimately stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in the 28th Field Maintenance Squadron until honorably discharged in 1959.
While at EAFB he met Elmer Biers and became an adoptive member of the family. He attended the Evangelical Free Church where he met the love of his life, Janet Marie Rosedahl. They were married on June 14, 1960 and were able to celebrate their 60th anniversary. To this union were born Darryl Wayne, Darwin Dale, Dalen Troy and Jill Marie.
After his discharge from the Air Force, he was employed at a service station in Black Hawk, Neil’s Tire Service and Daum Brothers in Jones County (rural Okaton) where the “the country boy” could enjoy the ranch life. In 1986, it was needful to move back to Rapid City. He was employed by U-Haul for 25 years.
At age 16, he accepted the Lord as his personal Savior and expressed his love for the Lord in many ways. He served in several capacities in the churches he attended, served with Child Evangelism Fellowship, the Gideons and Camp Hallawasa.
He is survived by his wife, Janet; children Rev. Darryl (Anna), Bellevue, NE, Darwin (Teresa), Laramie, WY, Dalen (Katie), Melstone, MT, Jill (Shane) Vernon, Blytheville, AR; grandchildren, Jonathan (Beth), Alice Springs, Australia, David (Dallas), Plattsmouth, NE; Landon, Mitchell, Laramie, WY, Elyse, Scottsdale, AZ; Melanie, PNG (now in MT), Troy, Boise, ID, Sarah, Melstone, MT, Nathan, Lewistown, MT; Michael "Alyx", St. Paul, MN, Marc, Blytheville, AR; 3 great-grandchildren; nieces; cousins; and special cousin, Alberta Bullock, Springfield, MO; the Biers family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents (losing his mother when he was 9 years old), his 3 sisters and their spouses; 3 nephews; in-laws, Ivan and Gertrude Rosedahl; adoptive parents, Elmer and Dorothy Biers.
At home, with family by his side, and the song “My Tribute” playing To God be the Glory he was ushered into heaven on October 22, 2020 at the age of 83 years, 10 months.
The following piece is a recollection by Larry B. Reinhold
When my brothers and I were quite young and the lights would go out in our bedroom at night, we would play an imaginary game that we called "The Everything Man". The players could only include three since it was just Lyle, Lee and myself.
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"Let's Play the Everything Man!"
"OK... I will be Tige." Of course our Dad would play a major role.
"I will be the Everything Man!" The Everything Man was just that ... He was sort of like the Amazoncom... however, we were on a first name basis with the Everything Man. He was quite agriculturally based... since we could order cows or hay or nearly everything and anything that we needed or wanted.
"OK... I will be Harry!" , one of us would proclaim. Harry was a dear family friend that we all admired. Seldom was anyone else ever named. Harry was just right character to round out our after dark play acting.
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The conversation would continue in this fashion...
"Ring... Ring"... (We were on a party line)
"Hello Everything Man... this is Tige. I would like to order two loads of cows, Three loads of alfalfa hay... perhaps we should fill the fuel tanks as well."
The Everything Man would always respond, "Can do... When do you want this delivered?" We never had to wait for the Everything Man to come through.
"And Oh... Mr. Everything Man... bring a truck load of pop." You see in real life during the day time, our dad would imagine with us that the hayloft in the barn would be a great place to store pop. A dream for boys under the age of ten that seldom enjoyed a bottle of pop except on special occasions.
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Then Harry would make his order. The game would continue on until one of us three boys no longer answered the phone or took delivery, but had drifted off to sleep. No one would ever be awakened since we were in bed... were to be quiet and we were suppose to be going to sleep.
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That was many years ago and my story has a final page for that chapter of the book. You see... Today, we will be going to the funeral of our friend Harry Keeney. A Godly man... A good man... A family man... One to not only imitate as a child but an example to many throughout his life. All the characters that played "The Everything Man" so many years ago are now in heaven but me. Yes, there are tears in my eyes as I finish this story. I know I have been blessed by the lives of many over the years. Thank you Lord for bringing so many fine folks into my life. Thank you Lord for our friend Harry.