Ernest "Ernie" Keller

Ernest Ernie Keller, 74, of Great Falls, passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2014.Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at Schnider Funeral Home. A family service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Ernies funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Burial will take place at Highland Cemetery with military honors. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Ernie was born on September 1, 1939 in Sidney, Montana to Ernest Keller, Sr and Irene (Heairet) Keller. The family later moved to Snohomish, WA where he graduated from high school. Ernie then served in the U.S. Marine Corp. After his discharge from the Marines, he attended junior college in Everett, WA for a short time before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at various places in North Dakota, Greenland, Montana, Mississippi, Nevada, Alaska, Utah, and returned to Malmstrom AFB where he retired.Ernie married Myrna Charleen Swenson on November 9, 1963 in Williston, ND. In 1973, the couple made their home in Great Falls. Following his retirement from the Air Force, he worked at New York Life as an underwriter and training supervisor, taught in the school district and at the College of Technology, and finally was a computer tech for the Great Falls "public" Schools.He was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church and NRA. Ernie also was involved in the Toastmasters and Mended Hearts. He was a very social person who enjoyed meeting new people.Ernie is survived by his wife, Myrna Keller of Great Falls; daughter Krista (Jason Miller) Goulet of Great Falls; brother, Bryan Lee (Beth) Keller; nephew Brian Jr. and niece Brittany, all of Stanwood, WA; granddaughter Tess Desire (Andrew) Hardie of Hawaii; brother and sister-in-law Bing and Linda Swenson of Williston, ND; cousins Willard and Fredia Keller, Butch and Linda Keller all of Bismarck, ND; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Irene Keller; father and mother-in-law, Orville and Verna Swenson; and sister-in-law Oral Johnson.