Keith Wayne Naig

Keith W. Naig, 82, died on Friday, June 23, 2023, at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, Minnesota. Memorial Services for Keith Naig will be held Saturday, July 1 at 11:00 am at the West Zion Lutheran Church of rural Hancock.  Visitation will be Friday evening from 5-7 pm at the Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  In lieu of flowers a memorial is preferred to the West Zion Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice.

To join a livesteam of Keith's Memorial Service, visit the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church's Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076974024753 or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@ZionShepherdLutheranChurches

Keith Wayne Naig, passed away on Friday, June 23rd, after battling Parkinson’s Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  He was the son of P. Arnold and Lorraine (Hendrickson) Naig.  He was born July 24, 1940 at the Benson Hospital.  Keith attended Cyrus Elementary for 2 years before his family moved to Langhei Township.  He was a member of the Langhei Aces 4-H club, was catcher for the West Zion softball team in the Hancock League and a member of the Happy Hoofers Saddle Club of Hancock.  He was a 1958 graduate of Benson High School.  He attended the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus and was a 1960 graduate of the University School of Agriculture.  He served 6 years with the Minnesota National Guards.  On June 19, 1965 he was united in marriage to Carol Kamrud at the West Zion Lutheran Church.  They lived on Carol’s home farm until moving to Scandi Haven in Benson in 2021.  Keith served his community as Clerk for Langhei Township, he was on the Minnewaska Lutheran Home Board and was Pope County Commissioner.  He was a member of the Glacial Ridge Cattlemen’s Association, he sang in the church choir, and held several offices on the West Zion church council.  Keith loved living in the country and was a farmer his whole life.  He enjoyed gardening, watching the Minnesota Vikings, and reading or watching anything related to farming.  Keith and Carol enjoyed traveling, and especially taking bus trips.  A couple of their more memorable trips were on cruises and a trip to Norway.  Keith will be remembered for his humorous one-liners.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol M., daughter Annette (Paul) Johnson and grandson, Marshall of Chaska, brothers, Charles (Nancy) of Elk River, Jim (Carol L.) of Starbuck and sister Linda (Kent) Trask of Kansas City, Missouri, sisters-in-law Oronah Wilhelmy of Starbuck,  Muriel and Mike Hanson of Edina and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by a stillborn son in 1970, his parents Arnold and Lorraine, his brother David, his in-laws Melvin and Irene Kamrud and brother-in-law Joe Wilhelmy.

The family would like to thank all of Keith’s doctors, nurses, and staff at Scandi Haven, Minnewaska Lutheran Home and the Benson Hospital for being so caring and for making his final days as comfortable as possible.