Fred Keller joins exclusive centenarian club

HOPE – Today, Fred Keller finds himself in an exclusive club.

Fred is joining those around the world known as centenarians. To be a centenarian one must simply round the sun 100 times or more. Centenarians make up 0.004% of the worldwide population, numbering upward of 300,000.

Fred was born April 16, 1922, giving his parents even sets of two boys and two girls. The family moved often throughout Fred’s childhood; however, he still made friends by being active in local church sports leagues, playing tennis, and basketball.

Fred enjoyed playing sports and being outdoors during high school, when he started downhill skiing. Fred has remained active his entire life in spite of battling a bone infection, osteomyelitis, which originates in the bones and causes swelling and pain. Fred was treated for this condition with a surgery at just 5 years old.

After graduating high school, Fred attended University of Utah, but his education was put on hold when became a “ski bum,” he said. Dropping out, Fred then went on to work for Stanford Oil Company for three years.

When his time with the oil company ended Fred found himself living in California, as a self-proclaimed “ beach bum.”

While he was sitting on the beach one day Fred decided to go back to school in pursuit of his bachelor's degree, this time graduating from San Francisco University. He later returned for his master’s degree before becoming a teacher, at a school district in Birmingham, California,

He retired at the age of 55. By that time, Fred had married his wife, Evelyn, and the couplehad two daughters, both of which were in high school at the time.

Post-retirement, a friend began telling him stories of the lakes and mountains of Hope, Idaho.

“We liked it so much we bought a lot.,” Keller said.

The couple began building their home in 1978. Construction of their home took four years. During the summer, their daughters would come to Hope as they worked on their home. Finally, the family moved to their new home during his oldest daughter's senior year.

Both of Keller’s daughters attended and graduated from Clark Fork High School.

When asked what is the most amazing thing he has seen in his 100 years, Fred said his family.

“These two did that when they were born,” he said, speaking of his daughters and how important his family is to him.

The father of two currently lives in Hope with his youngest daughter, Kelly Biggs and her husband, Mike. His oldest daughter, Christy Hayes and her husband live three doors down from Keller.

Fred spends his time walking with his best friend, a little dog called Monty, getting out in the garden, and chopping his own wood.

“He’s always outside doing something,” Kelly Biggs said. “If the weather is decent he’s out there digging up soil to plant grass like he just did.”

One of his favorite hobbies is wood carving. Fred taught himself how to whittle wood by simply sitting down “and just trying it.”He has gone on to carve multiple medium-sized busts, and a large Mt. Rushmore-styled piece. But all of his artwork is inspired by Native American chiefs.

Fred attributed his longevity to his clean living.

He’s never smoked and continues to stay active, also selling his motorcycle after a couple “close calls” is what keeps him kicking, Fred said.

Having watched his three grandchildren grow up, he will gets to watch his two great-grandchildren grow.