Billy Lee Keyser, 83, of Ord passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at CHI Good Samaritan Health System in Kearney, leaving a lasting impact on his family, friends, and the community he loved.
Although Bill always told Barry, “When I’m gone, put my ashes in the manure spreader and put me to rest in the big pasture, his life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 27, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Ord. Pastor Spenser Johnson will officiate. Military Honors will be presented at the Church by the Ord VFW Post #7029 and American Legion Post #38. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Church. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family directs the memorials to the TeamMates Mentoring Program of Ord. If you are interested in becoming a TeamMate mentor, please contact the office at (308) 728-3241. This wonderful program is always looking for mentors like Bill Keyser.
Every person has a story of Bill and the impact he made on their life. If you would like to share a story or your condolences, please visit ordmemorialchapel.com. The family would love to hear your stories, words of impact, and condolences.
Billy Lee Keyser was born on July 10, 1938 to Milford and Sylvia (Reier) Keyser in Miller, Nebraska.
Bill loved to tell tales of his upbringing in the Sumner area featuring dirt clod fights, swimming in the cow pond, and racing to get home before the train whistle curfew. Sundays were spent listening to his mother play piano and watching his dad pitch town team baseball. His love for music, sports, dancing, and horses was instilled at a young age, and these passions were carried with him as he moved from watching, to participating, to becoming the greatest fan. From elementary field day, to Musicalia, to state basketball and golf tournaments, Bill was always there, always positive, and could always be counted on for a loud and enthusiastic, “Way to go!”
Bill graduated from Sumner High School at the age of 16 and left for Camp Pendleton to join the Marine Corps following his 17th birthday that July. He was a proud marine. After his completion of Advanced Combat Training, Bill’s father died, and Bill was granted a Dependency Discharge to return to help at home. When he returned, he married Wanda Wood, and to this union one cherished daughter was born, Kelly Jo. It was while working at the Wood’s Ranch that Bill decided to pursue a career in horse training.
After running an ad in the Western Horseman, Bill landed his first job as a horse trainer. He was hired by the Dead End Ranch in Eureka, KS to train appaloosas. He was mostly self-taught by way of reading several horse training books (Bill continued to be a lifelong learner and avid reader). From there, Bill moved on to the Bar S Ranch where he expanded his training skills and acquired a mentor. He later went on to work at Pitzer Ranch in Ericson, Nebraska. He ran the breeding program, broke colts, and taught himself to shoe horses. During his tenure at Pitzer Ranch, Bill trained and showed Two Eyed Jack, who went on to be inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. Bill was a true horseman with the keen ability to identify and amplify the natural abilities of a horse and translate them across a variety of classes. He had the unique talent to take a horse into a halter class, win, and then take the same horse on to win the pleasure, western riding, and cutting classes.
After a few years, he went on to establish his own training program in O’Neill and then finally, Ord, where he trained and showed Zippo Pine Bar. Zippo redefined an entire discipline in the American Quarter Horse industry and is fundamental in breeding lines to this day. In 2020, of the Top 25 sires for the AQHA all-around industry, 18 of them carry Zippo Pine Bar’s blood. Zippo Pine Bar would become the second horse trained by Bill Keyser that was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame.
Bill married Carol (Sintek) Geweke on June 13, 1972. Bill became a willing and proud father to Barry, raising him as his own. Bill and Carol went on to have one daughter, Vickie. As hard as Bill worked, he really loved to play, too. Through the years in Ord, he joined a bowling league, played tennis, pitched for the local fast-pitch softball team, and later in life took up golf. He was never afraid to try new things. He learned to water ski and snow ski in his late 30s. He took to snow skiing quickly and easily and really enjoyed all the family and church ski trips. He even beat his grandkids down the mountain on a ski trip eight years ago at the age of 75! Bill had many varied interests and hobbies, but his favorite one was attending his grandchildren’s activities. He spent his retirement attending horse shows, baseball, football, and basketball games, vocal music concerts, dance recitals, honor choir performances, and golf tournaments. Grandpa Bill was a loyal and enthusiastic fan until the end and they sure did love having him there.
In addition to his attendance at most Ord Public Schools’ events, he was an active member in the community, as well. He sat on the Valley County Hospital Foundation Board and Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee. He has been a member of the Ord United Methodist Men and church choir, Methodist Youth Fellowship sponsor, Ord United Methodist confirmation mentor, mentor for the TeamMates Mentoring Program of Ord, and girls softball coach. He belonged to the American Quarter Horse Association, Nebraska Quarter Horse Association, and Cutting Horse Association. Bill was a connoisseur of the 10 minute nap, spurned spicy foods, constantly had a book beside him, and you could pick out his distinct whistle in any crowd.
Bill lived a life full of gratitude, and fittingly, he leaves behind so many who are grateful to have known and loved him. Bill is survived by his wife, Carol Keyser; daughter, Kelly Jo Phillips; son, Barry Geweke; and daughter, Vickie (Clint) Edwards. He relished his role as cheerleader, post-game/show analyzer, and role model to his five grandchildren, Kara (Jim Weigandt), Lucy, & Gretchen Geweke and Eve & Jack Edwards. Left with decades of fond memories are his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lyle and Lucienne Sintek; his brother, Mick (Jacque) Keyser; step-siblings Jerry (Kathie) Burr, David (Barb) Burr, and Janet (Gene) Beerbohm; and beloved in-laws, Gary Moritz, Lance & Peggy (Sintek) Hall, Jim & Ellen (Sintek) Riddle, Steve Sintek, Bob & Jean (Geweke) Stowell; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Welcoming Bill into heaven are his parents, Milford Lee and Sylvia (Reier Keyser) Burr; his step-father, Walter “Dutch” Burr; and sister, Mary Ann (Keyser) Moritz.
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