Keith Dwain Ferguson, 82, of Rogers, entered into Heaven and the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023.
He was born Monday, Sept. 2, 1940, in Lexington, Neb., to Carl Henry and Phoebe Eloise Hanna Ferguson.
Having grown up on the family farm in Lexington, Neb., Keith loved farming the land and raising animals. During his time at Lexington High School, he played football for the 1957 State Championship team. He married his high school sweetheart, Karen LaJeanne Bourne, on Sept. 30, 1961, and was father to two daughters that he loved dearly. Having taught them how to drive, irrigate crops, work on the farm, and spending time with them, he will be fondly remembered as an active father. He was known as the coolest Dad in the neighborhood for building stilts for the neighbor kids, an adjustable high jump for the track stars, a badminton court, and a treehouse with a dumbwaiter. He took his family on many fun camping adventures. He had a quick-witted, dry sense of humor and you never knew when you’d be busting out laughing. Keith passed on his ideals of a strong work ethic, stewardship of God’s gifts, loving, respecting and serving his country, and finding the humor even in hard things. He proudly served his country as a member of the Army National Guard and was employed in several roles in the agriculture industry.
Keith married Norma Charlene Beasley at Garden City, Kan., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 1986, and became stepfather to two stepchildren. Through the years he enjoyed creating beautiful landscapes, and doting on his grandchildren, who all had him wrapped around their little fingers. His induction into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 was one of his proudest moments. He made a public proclamation of his faith in Christ by being baptized in his sixties. His later years were spent birdwatching (except the brown ones), cooking on the grill, rooting for the Razorbacks, enjoying a great meal with friends and family, and playing games and going on long drives on the crooked roads with his children and grandchildren.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Charlene Ferguson; and nephew Craig Ferguson.
He is survived by his daughters and one son-in-law, Jo Ellen and Jim Ripple, Penngrove, Calif., and Cheryl Ferguson of Colorado Springs, Colo.; one stepson and daughter-in-law, Lance and Shelly Porter of West Fork; one stepdaughter, Andrea Pearson-Hurst of Bentonville; one brother and sister-in-law, Boyd and Donna Ferguson of Omaha, Neb.; two nephews, Mark Ferguson and Lance Ferguson; nine grandchildren, Kaylee Ripple, Connor Ripple, Jadon Ripple, Makenna Ripple, Dirk Porter, Eric Porter, Jack Ryan and Madeline Porter, Devin Pearson, and Riley Hurst; and one great-granddaughter, Valerie Pearson.
A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date.
Services are entrusted to Brashears Funeral Home and Crematory of Huntsville.