Keith Richard Dougherty

Keith Richard Dougherty passed away on Tuesday, September 29th, 2026, at Knute Nelson Care Center. He was 99 years old. Visitation will be held 3:00–5:00 PM on Sunday, October 11th, 2026, at Grand Arbor. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 12th, 2026, at Calvary Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial and full military honors will be at Kinkead Cemetery at 1:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made payable to the Elder Network or Calvary Lutheran Church and given to the family.

Keith Dougherty was born on February 11, 1927, in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of Wallace and Jessie (Herber) Dougherty. He graduated from Alexandria High School in 1944. His youth was filled with activity and involvement. He was a Boy Scout, a member of the Audubon Society, and participated in football, basketball, baseball, Key Club, and class plays.

In October 1944, Keith answered the call of duty and joined the U.S. Coast Guard. After completing six weeks of boot camp at Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, New York, he attended Electrician’s Mate School in Boston, Massachusetts. He then served aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Thetis in the North Atlantic for six months, until the conclusion of World War II. While stationed on the East Coast, Keith enjoyed attending Boston Red Sox games and even had the opportunity to attend a Boston Pops concert. Following his military service, he attended the University of Minnesota, where he pursued his interest in engineering.

On June 18, 1950, Keith married Vivian Henningsgaard. Together, they built a beautiful life and were blessed with two children, Todd and Anne. The family made their home on the shores of Lake Le Homme Dieu in Alexandria, a place that would remain an important part of Keith’s life for many years.

In 1960, Keith joined the Clearfield Cheese Company, initially working in sales before rising to the position of Plant Manager. His work took the family to Clinton, Missouri, but in 1969 they returned to Alexandria when Keith accepted a position with Ludke & Company, now Henry’s Foods. Their return also brought them back to their beloved home on Lake Le Homme Dieu. Keith and Vivian shared 37 years of marriage before Vivian passed away from cancer in 1987.

Faith and community brought a new chapter to Keith’s life. While serving as treasurer at Calvary Lutheran Church, he met Crystal (Nelson) Fuhrmannek, the church’s office manager. Keith and Crystal were married in 1988 and shared many wonderful years together until Crystal passed in 2021.

Keith and Crystal had a passion for travel and exploring the world. Their adventures took them to Alaska, Hawaii, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany. Yet despite his extensive travels, Keith never lost his trademark dry sense of humor, often joking that he had never left Douglas County, Minnesota.

Keith was an avid outdoorsman and lifelong sports enthusiast. He loved fishing and hunting, competed in horseshoe leagues, umpired baseball games, and enjoyed a good game of cribbage. Baseball held a special place in his heart, and he proudly played for the amateur Alexandria Clippers.

Service to others and involvement in his community were constants throughout Keith’s life. He served on numerous boards and committees, including the Red River Valley Synod, Knute Nelson Memorial Home, Bethany Home, Alexandria Community Foundation, and Alexandria City Storm Water Committee. He also served as Secretary of the Douglas County Fair and President of the Lake Le Homme Dieu Association.

Retirement did little to slow Keith’s desire to stay involved and give back. He volunteered and served as a board member with the Elder Network, helping promote social connections for older adults. He also shared his love of nature through the Minnesota Extension Office Master Gardener program. Keith was a member of the American Legion and the Alexandria Golden K Club. His many years of service were recognized by the Alexandria Sertoma Club with its 2002–2003 Service to Mankind Award, and he was also a recipient of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Champions of Health Award.

Keith passed away on September 29, 2026, at Knute Nelson Care Center in Alexandria, Minnesota, at the age of 99.

He is survived by his son, Todd (Kim) Dougherty of Chamberlain, South Dakota; four grandchildren, Allisson Anderson of Alexandria, Minnesota, Scott (Michaelah) Dougherty and Sean Dougherty, both of Chamberlain, South Dakota, and Janae (Andy) Sollars of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; and great-grandchildren, Chloe, Sawyer, Cameron, Parker, Paxton, Raiden, Tatum, and Jhett.

Keith is also survived by his stepdaughter, Andrea (Mike) Fuhrmannek-Kloubec of Buffalo, Minnesota; four step-grandchildren, Amber Johnson (Justin Bailey) of Starbuck MN, Erich Johnson of Alexandria MN, Kyle Spaeth of Buffalo, MN, and Ryan (Madeleine) Spaeth of Frankfurt Germany; and great-grandchild, Kaia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Jessie Dougherty; his brother, William Dougherty; his sister, Barbara Dougherty; his first wife, Vivian Dougherty; his second wife, Crystal Dougherty; his daughter, Anne (Karen) Garrett; and his stepdaughter, Gretchen Spaeth.

Keith will be deeply missed for his quick wit and dry sense of humor, his loyal friendships, his dependability, his honest advice, and, above all, his unwavering dedication to his family and community. He was someone who showed up—whether for family, a friend, a neighbor, his church, or a cause he believed in. He could bring laughter with a perfectly timed remark, lend a hand when one was needed, and could always be counted on to tell you exactly what he thought.

Keith lived a long and full life—one marked by service, friendship, faith, family, adventure, and laughter. The many lives he touched and the memories he created will remain his lasting legacy.