Keith Alan McDonald

Reverend Keith Alan McDonald, resident of Keenesburg, Colorado, passed away July 9, 2008 at Denver General Hospital in Denver, Colo. following an automobile accident at the age of 50. Keith was born to Desmond and Bernice McDonald on September 4, 1957 in Spokane, Wash. He was married to Yong Hui Lee on November 15, 1978 in Korea. Keith's family moved to Drummond where his father worked for Federal Aviation Administration. The family moved farther up the Rattlesnake, he attended Rattlesnake Grade School and graduated from Hellgate High School in 1975. After graduating, Keith joined the United States Air Force. After basic training in San Antonio, Texas, he was sent to language school in Monterey, Calif. and then was sent to Osan Air Base, Korea where he was stationed until being discharged from the Air Force in 1979.

After returning to the United States, Keith and Yong Hui attended Multnomah Bible College. Keith graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in Biblical Languages. Keith attended the Iliff School of Theology and graduated from that seminary in 1987 with a Masters in Divinity. Keith served as a minister in Plains and Paradise United Methodist Churches and began his pastorate there in July 1987. He served at First Hinsdale United Methodist Church in Buffalo and First United Methodist Church in Kaycee, Wyoming from 1999 to 2003. He was appointed to Community United Methodist Church in Keenesburg and James Memorial United Methodist Church in Hudson in 2003 to July 2008. Rev. McDonald's interest included hunting, fishing, hiking, dog carting, taking care of peasants, Taekwon-Do and biking. He had two children Nicole and Fletcher McDonald. He immensely enjoyed spending time with his granddaughters. He loved to write and wrote articles for The South Weld Sun newspapers in the Faith section. He viewed life as a journey of a sorts…He would like to be remembered as a prophet in the Church who didn't get completely tamed by the institution, although at times he felt it was so.

He is survived by his wife, Rev. Yong Hui McDonald of Keenesburg, Daughter, Nicole Peters and husband John of Buffalo, Wyoming, his Son Fletcher McDonald of Denver, Colorado, granddaughters Teila, Jamie, and Lindsay, parents Desmond and Bernice McDonald of Missoula, Montana, his sister Jeaneane Tam and husband Mark of Lexington, South Carolina, his brother Kevin McDonald and wife Sara of Kalispell, Montana, his mother-in-law Hui Chae Lee of Los Angeles, California, his sister-in-law Son Hui Kim and husband Su Young of Los Angeles, California, and his brother-in-law Chae Hyon Lee of Los Angeles, California. He is preceded by a brother Marvin who died in 1981. A prayer service will be on 7 p.m. Monday at SE Weld Fair Graounds in Keenesburg. Celebration of Life Service is to be held 10 am Thursday at Weld Central High School in Keenesburng.