Keith A. Stiles

Keith Allen Stiles was born June 26, 1942, to Irving and Mildred Stiles in Albert Lea. He was baptized at Trondhjem Lutheran Church and remained an active member of the Lutheran Church throughout his life. Keith graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1960. He married Carol Sanborn June 18, 1961, in Albert Lea. To them were born four boys: Rodney, Donald, John, and Dale. Keith touched the lives of many through his music. He started playing as a musician in 1959 with a group called "The Ram Rods." Other bands followed, including "The Style Bergs," "The Countrymen," "The Minutemen," "The Buckaroos," and "The Corporation." Keith served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Forrestal from 1960-1963, during the Cuban missile crisis. Later he was stationed at Naples, Italy, during his Mediterranean Cruise. Keith purchased the Farm Labor Service Station from his father-in-law, George Sanborn and co-founded Stiles Oil Co. with his brother, Arv, in 1974. In 1981, he went to work for Dave Syverson Ford, where he was employed as a salesman for 23 years. In 2004, Keith retired and took a part-time job as a maintenance man for the Comfort Inn in Albert Lea. He was a member of the American Legion and the Sons of Norway as well as a member of Grace Lutheran Church, where he sang in the church choir. Survivors include his wife Carol of Albert Lea, sons Rodney and his wife Claire of Chicago, IL, Donald of Minneapolis, John and his wife Sandy of Colombia Heights, MN, and Dale and his wife Carrie of North Branch, MN; grandchildren Matthew, Paul, Bethany, Nathaniel, Caleb, Annica, and Tobie Stiles; brother, Arvid and his wife Kay of Minneapolis; sister, Joyce of Albert Lea; and his mother, Mildred Stiles also of Albert Lea.; brothers-in-law Chuck and his wife Mary Ann Sanborn of Albert Lea, Jim Sanborn of Austin, and Clint Sanborn of Albert Lea; and several nieces and nephews. Keith was preceded in death by his father, Irving Stiles; his mother-in-law and father-in-law Alta and George Sanborn, and his brothers-in-law Gordon Moyer and Jay Gresczyk.