Keith Roger Bowman

Keith R. Bowman

Keith R. Bowman passed away February 3, 2020 due to Alzheimer’s.

Keith Roger Bowman was born July 12,1933 to Arthur and Elma (Rogers) Bowman, of Elm Springs, South Dakota. He grew up on the family farm and attended the Pierce School, which was a one room school teaching K-8 with usually five to seven students. After that he attended high school in New Underwood, SD living in a dormitory during the week and going home on the weekends. He graduated in 1951. While in high school he helped to establish the 3rd high school rodeo to be held in the United States.

Keith served 2 years in the Army as a medic in Korea from 1953-1955.

In 1956 he went to Sul Ross State College (now University) in Alpine, Texas where he met and later married Jane Sorell in 1958. In 1960 he graduated with a BS in Chemistry and in 1961 a MEd in Administration.

After graduation they moved to Wyoming. During his professional life he served as Superintendent of Schools in Arapahoe, Wamsutter, and Jeffrey City, and as Vocational Director of Wyoming Indian School. After his retirement in 1990 he and Jane bought a small ranch near Lander, WY. Keith retired again and sold the ranch in 2014.

Keith was often involved in youth rodeo. In addition to helping start the High School Rodeo he helped establish a rodeo endowment at Sul Ross and helped the CWC Rodeo Booster Club with their projects.

He always had horses available for his children and grandchildren. Keith was a strong advocate for “kids” frequently saying they were blamed for things that adult laws and rules had contributed to.

On October 1, 2018, in order to be close to family, Keith and Jane moved to Touchmark in Meridian, ID, where they lived in The Meadows Assisted Living.

He is survived by Jane, his wife of 61 years; sons, Terry (Alisa) Bowman of Meridian, ID and John Bowman of Ft.Collins, CO; daughters Barbara (Scott) Newcomb of Golden, CO and Sandra (Creg) Steele of Meridian ID; Grandchildren, Summer Steele, Sara Steele (Tom) Stewart, Nicole Newcomb (Cole) Kramer, Nick Franklin, Leighton Bowman, and Savannah Bowman (Patrick) Pola; great grandsons, Thaddeus and Crue Pola; sister Mayreen (Alex) Patterson, and sister-in-law Marlene Bowman; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by daughter Debbie Jan Bowman, his parents, 3 brothers and 2 sisters.