Kathryn (Katie) Susan Keeney

Katie went peacefully into the presence of her Savior on December 21, 2021, surrounded by her four children.

She was born on April 13, 1969, in Roundup, Montana to Donnie and Lilah (Russell) Kicker. She grew up in Melstone with her parents, her brother Tim, and her sister Kari, with many cousins and friends close by.

She attended school in Melstone, where she was active in many clubs & organizations. Katie attended Lewtana Bible Camp in Lewistown, MT as a camper and also served as a counselor & VBS teacher for many years. As a teenager, she was very involved in her church and youth group, often serving as the church pianist. After graduation, she attended Frontier School of the Bible for one year, where she made many life-long friends.

She had four children, Melanie, Troy, Sarah, & Nathan who she raised in Melstone. Katie helped with the family business, Kicker Sawmill, and also homeschooled her children for the majority of their school years. She enjoyed taking her family to historic places and had a talent for making even mundane things fun.

Throughout her life, she served her community by making beautiful cakes for many occasions, playing her flute in the MHS pep band, and teaching piano lessons; she also regularly babysat a number of children over the years, some of whom became like family. She was very involved at Community Bible Church of Musselshell, playing the piano and serving as a deaconess. In the last year of her life, she was a substitute teacher and teacher's aide at Melstone Public School, a job which she loved and looked forward to each day

Katie was well-loved by her community and church family. She had an impact on many people while doing the things she loved, whether it was her involvement at Melstone Public Schools, cooking at Camp Lewtana for many years, or welcoming friends into her home. Her family was a huge priority in her life, and she rarely missed an important family event. She loved serving people and did it well.

Most important to her was her faith in Jesus Christ. She trusted in Him as her Savior at a young age, a decision which shaped her whole life. She regularly pointed people to the Lord. Many people looked up to her for wise & godly counsel. She was especially involved in missions throughout her life, encouraging her children to be involved in ministry and supporting missionaries around the world.

She is survived by her loving children, Melanie, Troy, Sarah, and Nathan; her mother, Lilah Kicker; her sister Kari (Jason) Christensen; sister-in-law Laura Kicker; and many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, & cousins. She is preceded in death by her grandparents; her father Donnie Kicker; and her brother Tim Kicker.

Memorials may be given to Lewtana Bible Camp (P.O. Box 114, Lewistown, MT 59457); Ethnos360 PNG Helicopter Project (https://ethnos360.org/projects/three-helicopters-for-png); the Melstone Public School music program (MHS, 5 6th Ave, Melstone, MT 59054); or a charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 31, 2021, at 11:00AM at Melstone High School, Melstone, MT. A private interment will be at Cabin Creek Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at Musselshell School, Musselshell, MT. Smith Funeral Chapel of Billings is in charge of the arrangements.