Ganna Vida Keim

Vi was born on June 21, 1925 in a small town, Saybrook, Illinois, to Roy Vincent LaTeer and Lulu Myers. Vi was the middle of three girls and her family had a small farm with a few cows, chickens, pigs and corn. The family also ran a small coffee shop at the middle of the town. One day she and a friend, probably both middle school age, came home from school, found no one at home, were hungry, so they caught a chicken, prepared it, cooked it and ate it.

After graduating from high school, she attended a beauty school in Chicago. Then worked for a short time in the best salon at the biggest department store in the big city. She took the “EL” (elevated train) to the salon and began to catch the eye of a Navy guy who rode the same train to Champaign where he was going to the University of Illinois. They were married on Christmas Eve 1944. Their first child, a daughter, was born in 1945, followed by their only son in 1946, and three more daughters in 1948, 1952, and 1953.

Vi was the typical 50’s mom. She helped in the schools and the scouts. She was an excellent seamstress. She made matching Easter dresses for the girls and the men had matching ties. She made prom gowns, you name it. If there was a special function that one of the daughters was going to, she would gladly whip up a new outfit. Once all five children were in school, Vi got a job working in the fabric and pattern department at Fredrick & Nelson, downtown Seattle.

Vi loved gardening and entertaining. She enjoyed throwing big parties with her daughters as stand in waitresses. She was a gifted artist and painted lovely murals.

Vi was preceded in death by her son James Howard Keim Jr. (1970), daughter Pamela Lu Irby, (2000), and husband James Howard Keim Sr. (2001). She is survived by her three daughters, Sylvia Abbott, Krista Gamino and Victoria Nelson, ten grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Evergreen Washelli, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, there will be a viewing from 10 AM - 10:45 AM, followed by a graveside service at 11:00 AM.