Keith W. Nelson, 81

Dr. Keith W. Nelson passed away from lymphoma on Friday, Sept. 17, 2010, at the home of his daughter in Kirkland, Wash. He was born Sept. 25, 1928, at International Falls, Minn. His family moved to Fargo, N.D., in junior high where he enjoyed playing hockey. He moved to Polson for high school, graduating in 1946. For two years he was a lumberjack at his father s railroad tie mill near Eureka, before attending the University of Montana in Missoula. He then attended dental school at the University of Minnesota and graduated with honors in 1956. Keith worked summers during college at Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park where he met a student/waitress, Virginia Jensen, who would become his wife and love of his life. They married Sept. 2, 1956, and moved to Misawa Air Force Base in Japan where he was a captain during the Korean War. He set up a dental practice in Polson in February 1959. Keeping up with progress in dentistry was his passion. He was a member of the American Dental Association, Montana State Dental Society, past president of the Missoula District Dental Society and belonged to Psi Omega Dental Fraternity. He retired in 1987, yet stayed in touch with his dental colleagues. Keith loved sailing, golfing, hiking, camping, gardening and downhill skiing with family and friends. He was predeceased by sons, Warren and Galen; brothers, Craig and Curt; and sister, Lois. Surviving are wife, Virginia; daughters, Maren and Matt Robertson, and Gaerda and Randy Zeiler; and grandchildren, Bryden, Gavin, Brita and Alex. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Bellevue First Presbyterian Church. A celebration of Keith s life will take place next summer at their Flathead Lake home, which Keith and his father built in 1963. Memorials can be made to the Polson High School Dollars for Scholars, or Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland.