Susan Bissey Keller
Susan Bissey Keller of Libby passed away unexpectedly on July 1, 2014, just a few days before her 86th birthday. She was born July 5, 1928, in State College, Penn., to the late C. Van Dolah Bissey and Sarah Wright Bissey.
Susan received her primary education in the State College Public Schools. Her father was a professor at Penn State where he taught languages and served as a statistician; her mother was a private kindergarten teacher. Susan’s school interests included intramural sports, instrumental music and journalism. She also enjoyed spending several summers as a camp counselor in New England.
Susan graduated from Penn State University in 1949 where she was active in her Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, symphonic band and orchestra, and cheerleading for her beloved Nittany Lions. Following Penn State, Susan received her master’s degree from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Her first teaching job as a college professor was at the University of New Hampshire where she taught dance and individual sports for two years.
Susan married her high school classmate Robert Keller on Dec. 23, 1952, in Colorado Springs, Colo., before Bob was deployed to Korea. After his return, they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where Bob attended law school and Susan taught classes at both the junior high school and at the University of Utah.
Susan and Bob moved to Kalispell in 1955 where they enjoyed skiing with friends at Big Mountain, summers on Echo Lake and raising their four children: Geoff (Teri) of Billings, James (Catriona) of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Jill Mitchell (Kurt) of Minneapolis, Minn., and Johanna, a special needs daughter who preceded her in death.
In Kalispell, Susan was very active with her daughter’s swim team, serving as an official at swim meets across Montana, and teaching her sons her favorite sport of tennis.
Susan and Bob moved to Libby in 1988 and instantly formed new and lasting friendships.
Susan was active in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and its music program, and also thoroughly enjoyed singing with the Lincoln County Chorale, learning Hardanger embroidery and water-color painting, and participating in NordicFest.
She loved visits from her six grandchildren (Ian, Gillian, Fiona, Sophia, Olivia, and Lara). In addition to her children and grandchildren, Susan is survived by her husband Bob and her sister Joan Field of New Jersey.
Services will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Libby at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9. Arrangements are being made through Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home & Crematory.
Memorials may be made to the Susan Keller Scholarship at Libby High School, 724 Louisiana Avenue, Libby, MT 59923.
Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.