Robert "Tony" Keezer Sr, age 59, of Naytahwaush, MN, died Monday, May 13, 2019, at his home.

Robert Anthony Keezer was born November 19, 1959, in St. Paul, MN, to Robert Allen Keezer and Cecelia LaFriniere.  In 1965, he moved home with his family to the White Earth Reservation and grew up in Ebro, MN.  Tony attended grade school in Ebro and high school in Bagley, MN.  After high school, he attended Detroit Lakes Community College and received an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts.  In his early 20's, Tony furthered his education by earning a Carpentry Degree through the White Earth-Detroit Lakes Community College carpentry class, learning old school carpentry skills from Jim Wark, his instructor.  In the summer of 1980, Tony and Pamela Bush were married and together raised five children, who thought the world of him.  To provide for his family he earned an income from leeching, trapping, hunting, ricing and fishing. These were also some of the ways he put food on the table.  In the early 1990's, Tony went to work for White Earth Housing with Curt Bevins, Tim Roy Sr, under the direction of Earl McDougall, putting his carpentry skills to good use remodeling housing units.  After this job ended, he and Jeff Thompson formed a small business in the early 2000's. Together with their sons, they remodeled homes on the reservation.  When this business dissolved Tony worked on and off for local contractors later in life.  In 2012, he suffered serious injuries in a car accident, ending his career in construction.

Tony loved hunting, trapping, fishing, ricing and gathering, passing his knowledge and skills of the outdoors down to his children and grandchildren.  Throughout the years he also enjoyed golfing in tournaments with Tony Wad, Ken Fox and Ray Walker, making black ash baskets with Clyde Estey, playing card games, reading and taking old man walks.  Tony cherished the time he spent with all his grandchildren. It was a proud moment when Robert Keezer III was born.  Tony and Pam were proud grandparents to 21 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. He loved spoiling his granddaughters, Sarah and Mila Ray, and spending time fishing with Carina and Buster.  Tony always enjoyed his visits with Karter and Kyler and didn't even mind Meleah crying the moment she saw him.  After many surgeries later in life, he earned the nickname "Terminator" from Robert III and Buster because of all the hardware in his body. He was known for his fried fish batter, smoked suckers and friendly cook offs with his mother-in-law, Delores, delighting in making the better dish.

Tony is survived by his wife, Pamela; two daughters, Sarah and his favorite daughter Melissa "Miss" (Scott), both of Naytahwaush, MN; three sons: Robert Jr. "Lenny" (Jessi), Gabriel (Keahna) of Naytahwaush, and Melvin Bush of Mahnomen; brothers: Derald "Boozy" (Sandy) Keezer, Tom Keezer, Mike (Patty) Keezer, Louie Fox Jr., special brothers, Jason "Ed" Bellanger and Clyde Estey; sisters-in-law: Bette Tibbetts, Tammy Wadena and Monica Perrault, with whom he shared a love/hate relationship; and friend, Mary; and many nieces and nephews which he adored.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Robbie and Cecelia; sisters, Tina and Susan; mother-in-law, Delores; brother-in-law, Tony Wadena; and son-in-law, Ray Walker.

Robert "Tony" Keezer will be dearly missed by many and will forever be in our hearts.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life service at Pam Keezer's residence on Friday, May 17, 2019, starting at 5:00 p.m with the meal following at 6:00 P.M.