Keith Strange, 77, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at his apartment. His Celebration of Life Open House will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Social, 301 S. Thompson Ave in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There will be an informal program at 6 p.m. and guests are encouraged to share memories.

Keith Redding Strange was born September 7, 1947 in Sioux Falls, to Ruth Elaine (Koller) Strange and George Carlton Strange. He graduated from Washington Senior High School in 1965. "Tusker" earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Augustana College and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota. He became a member of the South Dakota Bar Association and was a partner in the law firms of Strange & Strange; Strange, Breit & Strange; and Strange, Strange & Palmer, specializing in tax and estate law.

In 1988, Keith moved to Kansas City and launched a new career as a cook. He brought his self-taught culinary skills to kitchens at Holiday Inn, Hall's Crown Center food court and Rockhurst University. His quick wit, ability to adapt to different cultures and languages, and natural talent for making people feel comfortable translated into 30 years as a respected restaurant professional. Before retiring in 2018, Keith enjoyed serving as private chef for the Rockhurst Jesuit Community, where his original and fancier dishes were greatly appreciated. Over the years, friends and family savored Keith's excellent appetizers, including bruschetta, sausage-stuffed baby red potatoes and his fresh salsa with "just a few" drops of honey. And how about those "Strange Eggs"?

Keith was a lifelong fan of music and sports. Nobody who knew Keith from his earlier Sioux Falls days could forget his and older brother Sid's impersonation of the Blues Brothers (and the Big and Bigger Schmenge Brothers). Keith played the musette as a member of the El Riad Shrine Oriental Band in the 1970s and '80s. He read the Kansas City Star's sports section daily, giving him the inside scoop, which he readily shared with any fellow sports fan. Keith loved to watch the Chiefs, Royals, Cornhuskers, and Jayhawks play.

Keith was an avid hunter and fisherman who relished spending time on the lakes and rivers of South Dakota, especially when walleye was involved. His friends and family are grateful for the many memorable times shared at the family property on the Missouri River near Meckling, S.D. It would be remiss not to mention Keith's affinity for the practical joke; many of his pranks, which often included the use of high-octane fireworks, are legendary.

Nothing, however, holds a candle to his ability to connect with others. Whether on weekly zooms with family, on the phone with lifelong friends, sitting on his front porch chatting with neighbors, or at the picnic table on his sister's patio, Keith built significant relationships. Keith was a rambunctious and caring bachelor uncle to his nieces and nephews and shared a special bond with his grandnieces and nephews, who adored his humor and perfectly-timed sideways glances. Everybody who knew Keith loved Keith.

Keith is survived by his brother, Sidney (Diane) Strange of Sioux Falls; sister, Kathleen Strange of Kansas City; nieces and nephews, Jennifer (Terry), Andrew, Derek, Stephanie (Lee), Nathaneal (Jaime), Benjamin, William (Mary), and Margaret (José); grandnieces and nephews, River, Skylar (Maggie), Aubrie (Garrett), Parker, Cassidy, Ailish, Davela, Mason, Joseph, and Jorge; and numerous cousins. Preceding him in death were his parents, George Carlton and Ruth Elaine Strange; and his sister, Suzanne Renee (Strange) Collins.