Penny Lorraine Keegan

CORVALLIS – Penny Lorraine Keegan, 61, of Corvallis passed away Monday, April 17, 2017 in her home surrounded by family and friends. She was born on June 16, 1955 in Chico, California to Barbara Gean (Walcutt) and George Lawrence Stephens. She was the second of four children.

               Penny was raised in northern California, and in the fall of 1964 she spent 4 months in the San Francisco Shriners Hospital to have multiple surgeries for Polio that she contracted at the age of ten months. In the spring of 1967 she and her family moved to western Washington where she graduated from Rogers High School in 1971.

               After high school Penny chose to attend college with the desire of becoming a Physical Therapist. Ultimately Penny graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreational Therapy. Penny’s plan was to put her degree to use working with either special needs children or the elderly.

               Penny was living and working in Kirkland, Washington when she met and married David Shane Keegan on September 4, 1982. In 1983 she and Dave moved to Riverside, California where she had 2 children, Kevin and Emily Keegan. After a few years and a few towns Penny and Dave moved their young family to the Bitterroot Valley where, in August of 1992, they bought a house in Corvallis, MT and settled in for the coming years. Here she was a dedicated stay at home mom and eventually worked as the Financial Secretary for Hamilton First Presbyterian Church.

               Penny was a loving and devoted mother with a deep seated faith in God and a passion for helping others; it was because of these traits that Penny devoted her time and energy to the many organizations she was a part of. Penny was a member and past Worthy Matron of The Order of Eastern Star, Leona Chapter #31 as well as a Mother Advisor for the Hamilton Rainbow Girls where she was a wonderful mentor to many of the young women who participated in the organization. Penny was a leader in the Corvallis Women’s Club as well as recruited and organized judges for all of the Speech and Debate Tournaments held at Corvallis High School. She was a devoted member of Presbyterian Women and an Elder of Hamilton First Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed singing, mentoring youth, giving her time to worthy causes, and rejoicing in her faith. Penny was lovingly known as “The Lady with the Polka Dot Van” by many across the state of Montana and was always making people smile with her wonderful sense of humor.

Penny was preceded in death by her father, George Lawrence Stephens and her brother, George Lawrence Stephens Jr. She is survived by her husband Dave of Corvallis; her son and daughter, Kevin (Bryn) Keegan of Sidney, MT, and Emily Keegan of White Sulphur Springs, MT; her mother Barbara Walcutt; her sisters, Alisa Kilmer and Deborah Ridge and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Hamilton First Presbyterian Church with a reception to follow.

The family please asks that memorials be made to the Hamilton Rainbow Girls, 115 3rd St., Hamilton, MT 59840.