Keith Jay Paterson, 61, Summerset, SD formerly of Riverdale, ND died February 12, 2020 at CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck, ND.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 22, 2020 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Riverdale with Pastor Van Vechten Crane officiating.  Interment will be held at 9:00 AM Monday, February 24, 2020 at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND with military honors.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church in Riverdale.

Keith was born February 28, 1958 in Rugby, ND the son of Robert and Elisabeth (Krueger) Paterson. He graduated from Riverdale High School in May of 1976. He served in the U.S. Air Force from November of 1976 until November of 1980. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, he was employed doing various construction jobs. Keith then joined the Local 714 IBEW on October 1, 1997 until October of 2017 when his health faltered and ended his career. He thought highly of being an electrician, often responding to doctors saying, "I don't understand medical language, I'm not a doctor, I'm an electrician." Keith enjoyed is coworkers and truly cherished his friendships.

Keith enjoyed fishing, hunting and loved riding motorcycles and made it a point to go to Sturgis almost every year until his health failed. He adored animals including his two dogs, Keisha and Gunner and his cool Siamese cat "Herbie". He always had a positive attitude and looked for the best in everyone. Patience and kindness were paramount to him when talking to others, as it was his way of changing someone's day. No matter what, he always reassured everyone that "it will be O.K.".

He will always be loved, forever missed and never forgotten by his mother, Elisabeth Paterson of Riverdale, ND; his brother, Steven (Jody) Paterson; his sister, Robin Nelson of Las Vegas, NV; his nieces, Nicole (Steve) Klaman, Whitley Paterson (Luke Adams), Samantha Paterson and Erika Nelson; his great nieces and nephews, Kamryn and Sydney Adams, Finn Paterson and August Dvorak. Rest in peace Keith, you deserve it.

Keith was preceded in death by his father, Robert in 2008.