Keith Flygare

FLORENCE - Keith Andrew Flygare, 71, of Florence died on Feb. 9, 2015, at home.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Monday at Assumption Catholic Church, with rosary recited at 9:30. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 by the Rev. Dale Branson.

Mr. Flygare was born on Nov. 3, 1943, in Kenmare, North Dakota, to Evelyn and Melvin Flygare. He graduated from Kenmare High School in 1961 and Minot State University in 1965. While in college, he excelled in football and wrestling and was inducted into the Minot State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980. He majored in education and later received a master’s degree in education from North Dakota State University-Fargo.

He taught in West Fargo, North Dakota, for seven years, then moved to Minot, North Dakota, and was a board member of the Behm Family Corporation. He was active in North Dakota Propane Gas Association and elected to its Hall of Fame in 2012. He and his family moved to Billings, Montana, in 1990, where he co-founded Big Sky Petroleum with his brother-in-law David Derhak.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth (Behm) Flygare, whom he marred in 1965; five sons and daughters, Brian Flygare of Kazan, Russia, Daniel Flygare of Troutdale, Oregon, Kathleen Flygare of Florence, Aaron Flygare of San Tan Valley and Marcie Ryba of Carson City, Nevada; three brothers, Jonathan, Dwight and Ervin Flygare; five sisters, Evelyn Booty, Bonnie Norton, Claudia Ditch, Shawn Olson and Geri Flygare; and three grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Minot State Wrestling or Bishop Ryan Foundation in Minot.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud Coolidge Chapel is in charge of arrangements.