Thank you coming. I’m Val Velde, Keith’s Middle Daughter. And on behalf of my mom, Betty, My sister Patricia and my brother Kevin we want to thank you for being here today. Thank you for helping us celebrate Keith’s life through pictures, stories, and song. And for each other through our transition of no longer having Keith with us.
Thursday afternoon Dad took a nap and didn’t wake up. He turned 69 the end of last month. One could say that this is sudden, unexpected, and shocking. And it is. But I also want to share that I personally believe our family was granted a great deal of borrowed time. Not just time but high-quality time.
When I was in the first grade my father had his first major heart attack. There were serious concerns at that time about a failing heart. Today I’m 37 years old, been married 15 years, have three children and I’ve had the blessing to have my father here for all of it. He was there when I graduated High school. He was there when I graduated from Undergraduate degree. He was there when I graduated from my Master’s program. He was there to celebrate with us dozens of special occasions. I believe that God blessed our family with barrowed time. Not just days, weeks, and months. But even years and decades.
The blessing of having a parent with serious health issues is that you don’t take tomorrow for granted. We valued camping trips, fishing, concerts, a Vikings game and other events that we knew we wanted to do.
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of things I learned from my father:
– Dad taught me to love a good deal. To this day I hate paying full price for anything. I can’t pass a garage sales or flea market or auction without thinking of my father. My dad was the guy that bought all the stuff at the end of an auction that didn’t sell. At a steal of a deal I might add.
– My dad taught be how to use a band saw, a hammer, and just generally make my way through the shop. My older sister and my dad really bonded over shop work. With my dad’s guidance my sister built some really cool things, my favorite being this amazing bench. My sister even followed dads foot steps and went to Staples Technical School.
– My dad taught me an appreciation of Agriculture. I’ve been passionate about the Ag industry throughout my career and that came from my father. It’s guided my 15 year career at Land O’Lakes. – All three of us kids followed dads foot steps in 4-H and FFA. – Dad drove us to everywhere!
– My dad taught all of us kids the love of outdoors, nature, camping, and fishing. My brother followed into my dad’s passion for hunting.
– My dad had some sayings growing up that rubbed off on me. “If you aren’t 10 minutes early, you are 10 minutes late” he’d say. Patricia and I would be the first ones at every meetings, concert, event, we were ever in or attended. Sometimes crazy early. 😊 I can tell you I was never late for class in college and even in my first years in the working world I’d show up early for everything.
– My dad and Kevin talked to each other everyday. They were best friends. – Kevin and my dad both had a love of trucking and machinery.
– From my dad I also learned to the value of hard work. More than that I learned that not all things that need to be done are fun. “what does ‘want’ have to do with anything?” the no complaining just shut up and get it done is a personality trait I learned from my father. – Additionally, my father taught my many more phrases and words that aren’t appropriate for church. – My sister and I learned the love of music from my father. Both my sister and I followed my father’s foot steps into band. My sister played Saxophone just like dad. My oldest son James starts playing saxophone this summer and I’ll think of dad every time I see him practicing.
– When I was really little I’d give dad a hug before bed and he’d say “good night stinker!” Now if you translate “good night stinker” in Keith’s language that meant “I love you Val”. As I reflect on all the memories with my father and I learned I’m so grateful for all those years of barrowed time.
In closing I’d just like to speak briefly to my father, who I know is here right now, “Dad good night Stinker”
My Journey 