Pat Keup

Patricia (Pat) Bowser Keup of Belle Plaine passed away peacefully on February 14, 2022, surrounded by her loving family including Marty Siemon. A private family-only Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.  The funeral will be live-streamed at 10:30 a.m. on February 18 at ourladyoftheprairie.com. A Celebration of Life will be held this summer for all to attend.

Pat was born on July 11, 1933 in Green Isle to Leo and Fern (Tierney) Bowser. She had polio in 1945 and was hospitalized for seven weeks at Sister Kenny Institute. Pat started high school in Belle Plaine where she first met Paul Keup, her future husband. She graduated from Le Sueur High School in 1950 and was crowned Miss Le Sueur in the summer of 1952. Pat graduated from Minnesota School of Business and was employed as an Executive Secretary at Green Giant. She loved working as a receptionist at the Belle Plaine Clinic.

Pat fell in love and married Paul Keup, son of Fred and Irene Keup, on February 23, 1957, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Le Sueur. Paul was co-owner of Keup Motors in Belle Plaine where they made their home and raised their family including Carolyn (Ron) Weber of Medina, Karl (Diane) Keup of Belle Plaine, and Karen (Pete) Fogarty of Eden Prairie.

Pat was very involved in her church and community and especially loved her time volunteering with Queen of Peace Hospital Auxiliary and Executive Board, BeFriender Ministry, and PEO Chapter EA.

Pat and Paul enjoyed traveling, entertaining, and most of all spending time with their family.  The annual “Grandparents Day” field trips with their grandchildren were among her most cherished days.

After Paul’s death in 2009, she moved to Kingsway Retirement Living where she met many new friends, most especially her second great love, Marty Siemon. After losing her eyesight in 2013, she remained positive and appreciated the support and devotion from her caregivers, family, and friends. Pat was a devout Catholic who lived out her Christian faith daily. She was a wonderful role model to her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed each day to the fullest by being thankful to God for all the blessings in her life.

She will be forever missed by Marty Siemon; her children and their spouses; eight grandchildren, Colleen (Paul) Lauren, Michael and Rachel Weber, Scott and Drew Keup, Nicole, Ryan, and Mark (Anna Lindgren) Fogarty; great grandchildren, Fitz and Max Lauren; sister, Kathleen Gjerde; sisters-in-law Lorraine Schultz and Lorrie Keup; and many nieces and nephews.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers James and Leo; sisters Margaret and Mary Jane; brothers-in-law J. Brooks Gunderson, Lloyd Merrell, Fred Keup, Lloyd Schultz; nephew Brooks Gunderson; and her beloved grandson, David Keup.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church.