Alma Wilkie Keney passed away, with loving family by her side, at Wedgewood Manor in Cavalier, ND, on October 3rd, 2012. Thelma (Alma) Laura Kreitz was born in Ridgeville, Manitoba to Louis and Helen (Henning) Kreitz. On November 25, 1944, she married Lawrence E. Wilkie in Emerson, Manitoba. From this union, three sons were born, Lawrence D., Robert, and David. The family resided in Noyes, MN. On December 9, 1972, Lawrence E. died suddenly. Alma continued to reside in Noyes until January 1976, when she married Fred Keney. They resided in Hamilton, ND. In January 1983, Alma moved to Pembina, ND where she lived until she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of this year. In the 1960's, Alma started to work at Motor Coach Industries where she was employed for many years. She worked past retirement age as she valued the friendships she had there. Alma loved spending time with her family and her friends. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading, and the daily jumble word puzzle. She especially enjoyed dancing. She had fun eating out at various restaurants with her family and friends, and she never said no to playing pull tabs, a few scratch offs, or a game of bingo. She went on several cruises, and the last few years, she spent a couple of winter months in Arizona with her dear friends, Burt and Martha Simmons. She loved sunshine and warm weather and being by any lake. She created beautiful afghans for her loved ones. She handwrote cookbooks with her and other family member's favorite recipes for each of her seven grandchildren. She never forgot a family member's birthday and shopped all year for that special Christmas present for each family member. Alma gave the best hugs. She had the greatest smile and sense of humor; there was nothing quite like having a good laugh with her. She was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her three sons and their families. Lawrence D (Dianne) of Shoreview, MN, Robert of Hugo MN, and David (Marica) of Grand Forks, ND. Seven grandchildren: Kara (Mark) Schmid of Mpls., MN, Kevin (Jennifer) Wilkie of White Bear Lake, MN, Carrie (Adam) Wilkie of Grand Forks, ND, Shanna Wilkie of Mpls., MN, Meagan Wilkie of Hugo, MN, Robert Jr.(Jackie) Wilkie of Hugo, MN, and Lisa (Jeff) Wilkie of Hugo, MN. Five great grandchildren: Quentin Wilkie of Grand Forks, ND, Camden and Adelynn Schmid of Mpls., MN, Kayla Joy Wilkie of White Bear Lake, MN, and Evan Robert Wilkie of Hugo, MN. She is also survived by her longtime friends Burt and Martha Simmons and Dorothy Ness. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ruth, husband Lawrence E., and ex-husband Fred Keney. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, October 8th, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Pembina Lutheran Church, Pembina, North Dakota. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock, Minnesota. Rev. Beth Peterson, presiding; Bettie Lou Stegman, organist and Douglas Finney, soloist. Casket bearers will be Alma's grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the church for one hour prior to the service. The Austin Funeral Home of Hallock is in charge of arrangements.