Matilda (Tillie) Rose Keith

Matilda (Tillie) Rose Keith passed away on May 13, 2024, in Wichita.

She was born on January 28, 1932, to Leo and Rose Wolf on a farm near Zurich.

Growing up during the Depression, they moved to several farms in Northwest Kansas to provide for the family. Tillie could only attend school through the 8th grade because she needed to help her dad on the farm. However, she was so intelligent that she picked up on things that school could not teach. When not helping on the farm, she worked for others to help provide money for her family. Her family finally settled on their farm 8 miles north of Penokee until she met the love of her life.

Tillie met Everette Keith at the Springhill Dance, where he swept her off her feet. He would even fly his plane the 15 or so miles to pick her up for a date. They married on April 17, 1949, and to this union, they had three children: James, Joseph, and Annette.

She was a farmwife in the true sense of the word. She milked cows, raised chickens, planted gardens, canned food, and everything else it took to raise her family, but she still found time to have fun with family, friends, and neighbors. Tillie was involved in planning many gatherings and community functions and enjoyed interacting with friends. She was very social and enjoyed being around others, and some of her favorite activities were dancing and playing cards. Hobbies that she enjoyed were cake decorating, quilting, gardening, and traveling. She was always on hand to help others with catering or just lending a hand.

Tillie is survived by her son, Joseph, and wife Karen of Penokee; her daughter, Annette, and husband, Larry Nickelson, of Wichita; and daughter-in-law, Geralda Keith, of Hill City; ten grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren (and one on the way); and one great-great-grandchild. She also has one surviving sister, Donna, and her husband, Joe Scott of Healy, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Everette, her son, James, her parents, a brother, Robert, sisters, Virginia, Eleanor, and Arlene and their spouses.

Tillie will be greatly missed by those whose lives she has touched. Her love of family and joy in life are her lasting legacy. She was a caretaker for most of her life and an inspiration to all.