Matthew McKeever

Matthew McKeever died July 21, in a Bismarck care center. A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 3, at 1:30 p.m. at the Bismarck Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
A service will be held on August 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Hamilton Presbyterian Church in Hamilton with Burial to follow in the Hamilton Cemetery.
Matthew Marvin McKeever was born October 30, 1918 in Grafton, ND. He was raised on farms near Bowsmont and Hamilton, ND in Pembina County. In 1935 he graduated from Hamilton High School. The following year was spent in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Montana.
He attended Valley City State Teachers College from 1938-1939 and shortly after that started working in Pembina County for the Agriculture Adjustment Office (ASC) in Cavalier. He did a lot of surveying.
In 1943 he was appointed Post Master in Hamilton and held that post for 31 years. Also in 1943 he became Gladys Lois Smith's husband and held that post for 65 years.
Matthew was involved in many of the Hamilton community activities; Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Scottish Rites, Men's Civic Club, Boy Scout Leader for Troup 123, of the Lake Agassiz Council, coached Hamilton Midget baseball team and participated in many sports himself, including baseball, basketball and golf.
He was a grounds keeper for the Cavalier Country Club for many years. He was also a member of Hamilton Presbyterian Church all of his life.
He is survived by his son, Richard and his children: Stefanie (Jeff) and family, Mark (Nona) and family, Jennie (Eric) and family, Matthew (Shari) and family, Joshua and Travis; daughter Barbara Stafslien and family: Ona (Malcus), and family, Jeb (Meredithe) and family, and Sam and his daughters; and his daughter Marjorie (Michael) Axt and their children: Jason (Cindy) and family, David (Carrie) and family, Carissa (Joshua) Steinert and family, and Katie (Nathan) Sgrignoli and family; his daughter-in-law, Laurel and her children Matthew and Mitchell. His is also survived by two nieces and one nephew; 29 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jennie and Matthew McKeever; sisters, Verna and Irma, his wife of 65 years, Gladys, and his son Dennes at age 51 and his nephews, Ronald Wells and Gerald Harlow.