Martha E. Keil, age 94, of Redwood Falls, MN passed away on April 2, 2025, at River Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Redwood Falls. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at St John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls with burial to follow in the Redwood Falls Cemetery. A visitation will be held Monday, April 7, 2025, from 5 until 7 p.m., at the Nelson-Hillestad Funeral Home in Redwood Falls. Visitation will continue one hour prior to her service, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the church. Arrangements are with Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Services of Redwood Falls.
Martha was born on December 22, 1930, in Sundown Township, Redwood County to Helene (Lerch) and William Valentin in their home. Martha graduated from Franklin High School in 1948 with honors. She went on to the Minneapolis Business School graduating in 1949, and began her work with the Redwood County Highway Department. Martha married Robert Keil on April 21, 1950, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Franklin. They were married for 29 years, when Robert passed on October 4, 1979. During their marriage, they welcomed two beautiful girls, Bev and Phyl. Martha proudly lived, the majority of her life, on their Keil Family Century farm. Martha especially loved and was known for her quilting. She picked this hobby up after her husband, Rob, passed. Martha made countless quilts, pillows, table runners and wall hangings for family and friends. She never kept anything she made showing her generous spirit. Martha also loved her cats; she fed all of the cats in the neighborhood. Martha enjoyed all of the activities at the nursing home. She was the queen of bingo. At the age of 31, Martha had a very serious medical issue, that hospitalized her for 38 days, and changed her life forever. Our family has had 63 bonus years with Martha, which allowed her to enjoy her daughters, grandchildren and even great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her spouse, Robert Keil, her parents Helene and William Valentin, and her siblings: Karl (Elsie), William, Walter, Arnold, Helen, James (Joanne), Richard Valentin, and Margaret Anderson; in laws: Bud (Ruth) Keil, Edwin Keil, Marie (Marvin) Stelter, Calvin (Joyce) Keil, and Lois (Warren) Clarken. She is survived by her daughters: Beverly (Steve) Czmowski of Hutchinson, and Phyllis Keil of Willmar; siblings: Bruno (Loretta) Valentin, MaryAnn Ruhland (William), Robert Valentin (Pam), and John Valentin; in-laws: Lela Valentin, Doris Valentin, Arlene Valentin, and Merl Anderson; several loving nieces and nephews; grandchildren: Chad (Betsy) Czmowski, Shawn (Dana) Czmowski, Andrew (Elizabeth) Welter, Ashley (Jon) Thomspon, & Amber (Greg) Welle; great grandchildren: Nolan, Jenna, Melia, Ben, Charlie, Lyle, Lucy, Etta, Calvin, Bergen, & Banks.
