Keith Ralph Ludwig

Keith Ralph Ludwig, age 68, Castlewood formerly a 18 year Watertown resident, died at his home near Castlewood on Thursday morning, May 11, 2006 after a courageous battle due to cancer. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 15, 2006 at 1PM in the Tabor Lutheran Church at Stranburg with The Reverend Elmer Brinkman officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by the American Legion Post #17 of Watertown will follow in the Church cemetery. Music will be presented by Kathy Granquist as organist with the congregation singing "The Old Rugged Cross" and "In The Garden". Other musical selections will be provided by Breanna Smykowski singing "I will Remember" and Nola Deresyek singing "Amazing Grace". Casketbearers will be Rodney Ludwig, Tye McClanahan, Newell Ludwig, Van Stewart, Ronald & Jim Rabine and Tom Wright. Visitation will be held 2 hours prior to services at the Church on Monday morning. He was born at Onida, South Dakota on February 2, 1938, the son of Ralph and Bertha Mae (Finney) Ludwig. He attended school in Onida graduating in May of 1956. Following his school he served in the United States Air Force from February of 1957 until his honorable discharge in April of 1960. On September 2, 1961 he was united in marriage to Carolyn Rabine at Huron. He was employed with Lampert Lumber Company from June of 1960 through December of 1979, advancing to store manager of the Wyndmere, ND building center in 1968. He purchased the Wyndmere Building Center in 1979 with a partner, which they operated under the name Wyndmere Lumber until 1986. He then went to work for four major motel developers ' Super 8 Builders; Tharaldson Development Company of Fargo, ND; Hospitality Builder of Aberdeen, SD and Leisure Hotels and Construction of Hutchinson, KS ' as a Construction Superintendent overseeing construction of hotels in the contiguous 48 states. He retired in November of 2002. Keith always felt his children were his top priority. His support extended beyond his family to his community. He served as Mayor of Wyndmere, ND for 8 years, was a member of the Wyndmere volunteer fire department, American Legion and Community Club for 17 years and the volunteer ambulance squad for 14 years. He also served as the treasurer of the Wyndmere Lutheran Church for four years. Currently, he was a member of the American Legion Post 17 of Watertown. A pastime of his was hunting pheasants and he will long be remembered for wanting things casual; yes, even at his funeral he has requested that people come in jeans and a shirt, leave the suit at home! Survivors include his wife Carolyn of Castlewood, six children, Debra Mae Hines of Watertown, Lynn Street and husband Jim of Albuquerque, NM, Rodney Ludwig of Castlewood, Cheri Ludwig of Watertown, Bret Ludwig and wife Lynne of Oakdale, MN and Tina Carter of Castlewood; 7 grandchildren, Kristina, Michelle, Jonathan, Kaitlyn, Cole, Zachary and Amanda and 2 great-grandchildren, Nevaeh and Cayden and an "adopted son", Tye McClanahan of Watertown. He also leaves 2 sisters, Phyllis Mikkelson of Huron and Leona Morris of Webster. Preceding him in death were his parents Ralph and May Ludwig and a son-in-law, Rolando Lucero. Email condolences to www.furnessfuneralhome.com