Cover photo for Keith Petrin's Obituary
Keith Petrin Profile Photo
1941 Keith 2019

Keith Petrin

April 16, 1941 — May 4, 2019

Keith Allen Petrin, 78, longtime resident of Onamia, MN, passed away peacefully at Riverwood Hospital in Aitkin, MN on May 4, 2019.

Keith was born to Arthur and Myrtle Petrin in Minneapolis, MN on April 16, 1941.  He would be the fourth of six children.  Shortly there after, the family moved back to the homestead in Onamia.  Keith attended Cove School and later graduated from Onamia High School in 1959.  He enlisted in the US Army in the spring of 1960.  Keith’s first tour of duty was in Germany, where he met his future wife, Dorothy. Dorothy brought to this union her son, Randy who Keith happily adopted.  Dorothy and Keith were blessed with the joy of Keith’s life, their daughter Jenny.  Jenny later married and brought two grandsons to the family.  After many tours of duty in Germany, Korea, and Vietnam, Keith would retire with his family in Ft. Hood in Kileen, TX.  He went to work at a cabinet shop and found his creative side.

Keith and Dorothy would later divorce after 20 years of marriage.  He moved back to Minnesota to be near his family and reunited with his first love, Beverly Scheff Topping. The couple married and her children and grandchildren were a big part of Keith’s life.  They would enjoy 18 years together before Beverly would pass away from cancer.  During their marriage Keith worked as a cabinetmaker in Princeton, retiring after 20 years.  He built many beautiful pieces of furniture for family and friends.  He even made a number of urns for his family members, and himself.  He spent many hours a day watching wildlife at his home – especially the bears.  He enjoyed happy hours around the bar with his friends.  He also liked to make sure his house was packed with snickie snacks (Keith’s term) when guests would come visit.  The last five months of Keith’s life were spent at River’s Edge Assisted Living in Aitkin, MN.  The staff enjoyed his life stories and at times, he would dazzle them with his colorful language and not so playful antics.  But through it all, he was loved by the staff and the residents that knew him.  He will be missed there and though he tried to hide it, he was happy there.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Delores and Shirley; brothers, Duane and Billie; daughter, Jenny; and his loving wife Beverly.  He leaves behind his sisters, Karen (Terry) Lundeby, of Onamia; niece, RaAnne Petrin, of Onamia; nephew, Justin Petrin, of Onamia; son, Randy (Ann) Petrin, of Fort Myers, FL; grandsons, J.R. and Nick Singly, of Texas; step-children, Sauni (Steve) Miller, Pilar Toppings, Clayton (Sue Ellen) Toppings, Trish (Stewart) Powell; and many nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren.

Please join Keith’s family as they gather to celebrate his life from 2-4 p.m. on Monday, May 13 at the VFW in Onamia.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Keith Petrin, please visit our flower store.

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