Louis & Bernice Keller Family

Family traditions run deep in the Keller family; the tradition of attending NDSCS is one of them. Louis and Bernice Keller had ten children. Following Bernice’s untimely passing, Louis married Mary Ann. She helped raise the family and passed away in 1985. The patriarch of the Keller family, Louis Keller, was a true innovator. From their machine shop in Rothsay, Minn., Louis and his brother Cyril invented the “Keller Self-Propelled Loader” a compact 3-wheel machine, to clean local turkey barns. In 1958, Louis and Cyril awarded Melroe Manufacturing Inc., of Gwinner, N.D., rights to the patent and joined the company. Together, they would develop the Bobcat Skid-Steer Loader. Eventually, Cyril transitioned to sales, while Louis remained at the factory continuing to design new and improved models of the skid-steer. It is likely that the hands-on nature of Louis’ work and innovative personality influenced his children to attend NDSCS. Through the years, nine of the Keller children earned degrees in seven areas. The NDSCS tradition continued with their children, spouses, and grandchildren attending NDSCS. 

Marilyn (Keller) Loegering is a 1964 graduate, earning a degree in Secretarial with Industrial drawing/lettering classes. After graduation she went to work for Ulteig Engineering  in Fargo, N.D. where she did drafting. In 1965, she married George Loegering, they had two sons and three daughters, 14 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. In 1970, Marilyn and George took another of Louis’ patents and started Loegering Mfg., Inc. They produced the first over-the-tire tracks for skid-steers and other wheeled machines – including the innovative bolt-on versatile track system (VTS). They operated this business for 33 years in Casselton, N.D., selling the company in 2004. Marilyn and George are enjoying retirement in Casselton. Their son, Steve, attended NDSCS receiving an associate degree in Machining/Tool & Die in 1986. He now owns SJ Machine in Casselton, where he produces precision parts. Their son-in-law, Loren, earned a Computer Science degree from NDSCS in 1998.

Jeanette (Keller) Mathers is a 1967 graduate of the Licensed Practical Nursing program. She was employed for over twenty years as a charge Nurse in a nursing home. She and her husband of 54 years have eight children, 20 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Jeanette commented that her nursing degree was just as beneficial in the home setting as it was in the workplace. 

Barbara (Keller) Loegering graduated in 1968 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was employed at Dakota and St. Luke’s Hospitals in Fargo, N.D., until 1970. She married Paul Loegering and they had eight children. The couple has 33 living grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and four step-great-grandchildren. Their grandson, Jeremy McIntyre, is currently enrolled in the Electrical Technology program at NDSCS. Barbara and Paul reside on their acreage northeast of Moorhead, Minn. 

Diane (Keller) Carff graduated in 1969 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Diane met her husband, Clarence (Butch), while attending NDSCS. Butch graduated in 1969 from Radio, Television, and Appliance Servicing. She worked at Dakota Hospital in Fargo, N.D., before becoming a Navy wife and stay-at-home mom. Butch joined the Navy in 1969, the same year he and Diane were married. After 20 years in the Navy, they retired from the Navy to Pensacola, Fla., where Butch worked as a Remote Service Technician for a bank until retirement. Butch and Diane have five children and 16 grandchildren. 

Patricia (Keller) German took an evening class in Business Accounting in 1993, the year she and husband Jerry opened the Ridge Ballroom in Breckenridge. They both enjoyed getting to know residents of the Wahpeton and Breckenridge communities through their business. Jerry, from Hankinson, N.D., graduated from NDSCS with an Associate of Arts Degree. Patricia and Jerry reside in Somerset, Wis. They are retired and now run a small Caribbean resort in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, where they spend winter months. They have eleven children and 37 grandchildren.

Mary (Keller) Anderson is a 1975 graduate with a degree in Dental Hygiene. She worked for a year and a half as a Hygienist, then took 15 years out of the workforce to raise her children. She went back to work as Dental Hygienist in 1991, and still works one day a week for Kline Family Dentistry in Williston, N.D. She is married to Rodney Anderson. He graduated from NDSCS with an Electronics Technology degree. He was self-employed before going to work for Northwest Communication Cooperative in Ray, N.D., where he has since retired. Rodney and Mary live in Ray, N.D. They have four children, seven grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. Their grandson, Matthew Hanel, is now attending NDSCS working towards a degree in Diesel Technology.

Joe Keller graduated with an A.A.S. Degree in Mechanical Drafting and Design in 1977. After graduation he worked at Loegering Mfg. in Casselton, N.D., until 1980. The fall of 1980, he accepted a position as an instructor in the Mechanical Drafting department at NDSCS. During his time at NDSCS from 1980 through 1989, he completed a one-year Machine Tooling degree and was taking classes toward a Mechanical Engineering degree. In 1989, Joe accepted a job with 3M Data Storage Division in Wahpeton, N.D., and completed his Mechanical Engineering degree while at 3M. This started a 30-year career that went from 3M Wahpeton to Imation Wahpeton (due to the Imation spin off from 3M), then back to 3M Brookings Medical Division in 2006, then to the 3M St. Paul Medical Division from 2010 through 2019. Joe happily retired from 3M in the spring of 2019. In 1982, Joe married Darci Anderson, a 1982 Computer Science graduate, and together they have two children. Justin, lives near Rosco, IL with his wife, Allison and their four children, and Jamie lives in Bremerton, Wash. 

Dale Keller received his Basic Machinist degree from NDSCS in 1978. He then owned and operated Keller Machine Shop on the family farm until 2001. His wife, Colleen, also attended NDSCS in 2003. She graduated in 2006 with an A.A.S Degree in Office Administration and a certificate in Medical Transcription. They have three sons, two are NDSCS graduates. Their oldest son, Nathan, attended from 2000-2002 earning an A.A.S. in pre-engineering and then went on to graduate from North Dakota State University (NDSU) as an Agriculture and Bio-Systems Engineer. Their second son, Tyler, attended NDSCS from 2002-2004 leaving with an A.A.S. degree in Architectural Drafting and Estimating; his wife, Mallory, is also an NDSCS graduate with a degree in Dental Hygiene.

Brian Keller is a 1983 Computer Programming graduate. He went on to attend NDSU graduating in 1987, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Brian obtained his CPA certificate in 1989, and worked as a public accountant for ten years and then as a Controller for various companies for more than 15 years. Brian has two sons and is currently living in Fargo, N.D., teaching Accounting at Minnesota State Community and Technical College.

Mark Keller is a 1985 graduate of the Mechanical Drafting and Design Technology program. In 1986, he earned his Pre-Industrial Arts degree at NDSCS. In 1987, Mark joined the United States Air Force and earned his Search and Rescue degree from the Community College Air Force as well as his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, both in 1996. Mark’s wife, Ruth (Underdahl) Keller, is also an NDSCS graduate, earning her Accounting degree in 1986. She currently works as a Systems Analyst for the Municipality of Anchorage. Mark and Ruth live in Eagle River,