Keith M. Henderson

Keith Melvin Henderson, the oldest of three children of Alva Everett and Ella Josephine (Pontow) Henderson, was born on August 22, 1939 on a farm northeast of Silver City, Iowa. He attended Excelsior country school, located about a mile south of the farm, walking to and from school on a dirt road. At age 10, his family moved to a farm they purchased southeast of Malvern, Iowa. He attended Foxworthy country school and started 7th grade in Malvern, graduating from Malvern High School in 1957. Keith was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Hastings, Iowa, where he was baptized and confirmed. Keith joined the United States Army in 1961 and served for two years, stationed with the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Following his discharge, he returned home and began farming in partnership with his father. He continued military service with the Iowa National Guard, attended the Iowa Military Camp at Camp Dodge, and was commissioned an officer, eventually reaching the rank of First Lieutenant. Keith and Ardeth Louise (Heskett) Griffin were married on July 7, 1978 at St John's Lutheran Church. They made their home in Malvern and their marriage wa...[more]

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lessed with two children, Amy Louise and Brian Keith. While in school, Keith was a member of the Silver Creek Go-Getters 4-H Club and showed hogs at the Mills County Fair. He held many church council offices and served as Sunday School Supt. Keith served on the Mills County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, worked with Mills County Extension and was a member of the East Liberty Cemetery Association and Malvern Cemetery Board. He also served as secretary for AAL Branch 2618 for several years. Keith and several area farmers formed Golden Hill Pig, Inc., and he served as treasurer from 1974 to 1986. Keith enjoyed skiing in Colorado and took flying lessons, earning his pilot's license. In 1972, Keith became Scoutmaster of the Malvern Boy Scout Troop 242, serving 32 years. He enjoyed taking the scouts on the High Adventure trips, canoeing at the Boundary Waters near Ely, MN, or backpacking in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. He helped his children with calf and hog 4-H projects for many years and enjoyed their many activities. Keith passed away at his home in Malvern on July 11, 2010 at the age of 70 years, 10 months, and 19 days, having endured kidney dialysis and other health issues for over five years. He was preceded in death by his parents; and father-in-law Jesse Heskett. Keith is survived by his wife of 32 years, Ardeth Henderson of Malvern; daughter Amy Henderson and husband Jeff Kosse and their children, Ava Louise Henderson Kosse and Parker James Henderson Kosse of Omaha, NE; son Brian Henderson of Twenty-nine Palms Marine Corps Base in California; brother, Marlin Henderson and wife Joann of Randolph, IA; sister Elvera Thomas of Arvada, CO; mother-in-law Ruth Heskett of Omaha; a niece and a nephew; many cousins; other relatives; and a host of friends. A memorial fund has been established.