Eugene Manley “Bud” Keyes, the son of Edward and Goldie (Flowers) Keyes was born in the rural Newport Township home of his parents on February 20, 1928.  He died at the age of 89 years on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at the Benedictine Living Center in Garrison, North Dakota.

Bud grew up in the farm home of his parents and graduated from Towner High School, the class of 1946.  He completed his education at North Dakota School of Forestry in Bottineau and the North Dakota State University in Fargo.  Following college, Bud worked with his father on the family farm and in the oil patches near Westhope until 1959.  In 1953 he married Shirley Amon and to this union five boys were born.  Later, he and Shirley would divorce.  In 1959, he took over the family farm and operated that until 1977, when he again became an oil man in Williston until 1982. Bud went into insurance sales with American Family Insurance after leaving the oil fields until he retired in 1993.  On February 25, 1984, he was united in marriage to Corinne (Loftesnes) Rosencrans at Zion Lutheran Church in Towner.  The couple made their home in Towner.

Bud was a competitive man his entire life, either with others or himself.  He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, was the Titans biggest fan, attending every home game through 2016.  He enjoyed almost every sport imaginable, either as a player or fan. While attending college in Bottineau in played in the winning football team that was later inducted into “Hall of Fame”.  Bud enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting and trapping.  He was a past member of the Zion church choir, Newport Township Board, the Towner School Board and for many years, the Sexton of the Union Cemetery in Towner.

Survivors include his wife, Corinne of Towner; three sons, Terry of Colorado, Wade (Sandy) of Wyoming and Bradley (Tammy) of Missouri; step-sons, Dale Rosencrans of Bottineau and Paul Rosencrans of Towner; 11 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; two brothers, Donald (Terri) Keyes of Towner and Florida and Dennis (Dawn) of Texas; nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.  He was preceded in death by two sons, Bryan and Randy; two brothers, Edward and Kenneth; and his parents.

Memorials in his memory can be directed to the Towner Fire, Rescue & Ambulance building fund, the St. Benedictine Living Center, Garrison or Donors Choice

Memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 9^th at the Zion Lutheran Church in Towner, Pastor Linda Wimmer and Mr. Wally Fretland, officiates.  Friends may greet the family for one hour prior to the time of service in the church.  Bud has bequeathed his remains to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine for research.