Keith Allan Illston

Keith Allan Illston, age 61, of Anaconda, Montana, passed away on October 12, 2022.

Keith Illston was the youngest child of Rita and William Illston Sr. He had 2 siblings William “Bill” Illston Jr and Kim Marie Hatcher/Husband Steve Hatcher, Uncle Roger Blair, Cousin Vern Blair and Daughter Christine Blair. His childhood friends were known as the “Miami Ave Crew” who banded together in a relentless pursuit of high jinx all over Hayward, CA. From riding their Schwinn Stingrays to their fishing spots, playing baseball with the neighborhood, and customizing their hotrods as their lives matured, there was never a dull moment for the parents on Miami Avenue. He met his wife-to-be, Mary Ann Illston, near the end of his high school career in 1979 and married her with great pride in 1982 at St Timothy’s Memorial Chapel above Georgetown Lake outside of Anaconda, MT.

The Illston family had formally moved with a Pioneer Spirit to Anaconda, MT having purchased a home in Olson Gulch located 7 miles west of Anaconda in 1980. As Keith became a young adult, he expanded his list of hobbies such as rock climbing in Yosemite, CA, taekwondo where he advanced to a red-black belt and became a business partner developing a taekwondo studio named Kick USA in Hayward, CA. He also continued to enjoy trap shooting all over California and Montana with Bill Sr. and Jr. His work endeavors during this stage of his life were mainly dedicated to Jensen Mechanical, a mechanical contract company. He advanced to foreman and worked on large scale construction in a variety of large-scale national brand production plants throughout north California Bay Area.

Once Keith returned to his full-time Anaconda residency in the early 90’s, he became a journeyman carpenter, the process being expedited and expanded by his millwright experience. The move also started a totally new chapter in his hunting career. Having mainly hunted small game in California, the opportunity to pursue big game came as an exciting adventure he never got enough of. Keith has gone on countless trips with Bill Illston Jr., Edgar Howery, Mike Softich, Mike Blair, and many other great friends of his. His fishing career having a similar continuance once he arrived here, he commonly went to Georgetown Lake during the summer afternoons with all the family and friends that were able to attend.

Later in his life, the early 2010’s, Keith started working at the Anaconda Job Corps, where he was able to assist and prepare countless students in their journey to a stable career. During this time, he also took his dogs out on many hikes and walks on any trail that had his fancy, his most recent favorite being Blue Eyed Nellie. Throughout the entirety of his life, Keith was a purveyor of music and cinema, with an incredible memory of both. Keith was a generous caring mentor, a hard worker, innovator and inventor obtaining a Federal Patent in 2017. Keith was a friend to many and a loving son, brother, husband and father to the brightest light in Keith’s eye’s his son Christopher. Everyone that knows Keith can attest to his pride, joy and love for his son. Left behind were also many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at Gateway Christian Fellowship, 300 E. 4th St., Anaconda, MT 59711. A luncheon will follow at the church. Services have been planned and organized by the church and family - for any questions related to services please contact family members or the church at 406-563-3534.

Please visit the sidebar to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Keith.  Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home has been privileged to care for Keith and his family.