Keith Tarbox

Keith Tarbox, age 41, of Volga, formerly of Bradley, died unexpectedly at his residence.

Keith Tarbox was born on January 9, 1981 to Vernon and Nancy (Bjerke) Tarbox.

Keith attended and graduated from Clark High School in 1999 and then went on to Lake Area College in Watertown to graduate with a 2-year degree in Auto Mechanics in 2001.

Keith had an amazing work ethic that started early on in his life while he was on the family farm. He enjoyed going out to help rake the hay. Before graduating high school, Keith became diagnosed with Crohns' disease, but he continued to work hard at NAPA Advanced Auto and Hurkes Repair – where he worked on race cars.

One day, Keith said, "I'm going to drive truck", and off he went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to work with Midwest Coast Transport where he drove coast to coast. While working with Midwest, Keith would have hour long conversations on the phone with his mother, Nancy, and she would stick a pin in a map she had marking all the different locations that Keith had travelled to. Keith also drove flat beds for Jon Rider where he would haul bees, of all things; which Vernon remembers became very interesting for Keith once in a while. Keith also hauled flowers and plants. He loved plants and knew all about each of the plants that he was delivering for the nursery. Keith, 'the flower child', had planted many different flowers around his yard and had a vegetable garden that he used to can in the fall.

Keith continued his trucking career by hauling cattle for Carson Larson Trucking. Cattle haulers are a special breed and Keith fit right in. His calling led him to become an independent trucker in 2015 in which he started KT Trucking. He hired out to haul cattle and gas fuel. Keith tallied well over a million miles in trucks, all accident free.

Law enforcement was one of Keith's dreams, so while Keith was trucking, he took on-line courses for criminal justice. In 2020, he applied and was hired as deputy sheriff in McPherson County. Unfortunately, on-going health issues with his Crohn's disease and arthritis made this career a short one.

Keith went back to driving truck for Wayne Transport until the fall of 2021; when he had to have hip surgery. After a long recovery period, Keith was able to go back to work as a truck mechanic for Lance Trucking in Volga, South Dakota.

Keith was an independent, hardworking, kind, and fun-loving guy. He enjoyed time spent at the race track helping make sure the cars would be able to race, camping, and fishing. He was a master griller with his pellet grill and most of all loved spending time with his family. Keith worked hard to make a living he was proud of and his parents were very proud of him for following his dreams.

Keith is survived by his mother Nancy Tarbox; father Vernon (Chris) Tarbox; brother Will (Rachel) Tarbox; sister Amber Tarbox; step brothers Matt Raymer and Corey (Janelle) Raymer; step sister Nicole (Tony) Johnson; children, Seth and Riley Tarbox; his little ankle biter, Peanut; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Keith is preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark. Services will be held on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 2:30 PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark with visitation one hour prior and lunch to follow at the Legion Hall in Clark, South Dakota.

Arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home of Clark where there is an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.