Justin Lee Keough

Justin Lee Keough, surrounded by the love of his family, passed away on February 28, 2026, in Woodbury, Minnesota. He had fought a long, valiant battle with cancer, and his hospital room was a revolving door of family and friends. Because of Justin’s personality and his tendency to absolutely, never give up, for more than two years he transparently shared his life’s journey with others.

A native of Nemo, South Dakota, Justin was born on November 29, 1971, to Marilyn and Donald Keough. The laughter and adventures started soon after, and continued throughout his life.

He was the youngest of three children; nine and seven years younger than sister Jodi and brother Casey, respectively. Justin’s joy for life was evident from the start. As a kid, he raised a menagerie of animals and played every sport there was, literally—once he received a medal for participating in more school sports in the same year than any other student. In high school, he started bull riding, and won the state saddle for his division. Then, as a college student at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, he started a rodeo club and even qualified for nationals, but a broken leg kept him from competing. As an adult, Justin trained for mountain races and had a love for water sports.

His biggest joy and accomplishment came from finding his wife, Nicole Vaughn. The Wife Project was one that his three eldest nieces had been working on for years. Their “cool uncle” was already 40 and a godparent to two children, but he had not found his match. The couple’s romantic story started online. Justin provided heartfelt answers on the dating platform, while Nicole’s cousin Sarah used Nicole’s profile as an experiment. It worked. As fate would have it, the woman who was about to change Justin’s life lived 1.7 miles away, shopped at the same stores, ran on the same bike path and trained with the same competition swim coach.

Nicole appreciated Justin’s goals for life, and his love for faith. The first time they met in person, she looked at his “great smile,” and she knew “This is a man I could marry.” He popped the Big Question about a year later on Nicole’s first trip to his home town, and they married December 28, 2012. With great joy, they welcomed their children in 2016 and 2018. Justin's greatest joy was his boys, Vaughn (9) and twins Dylan and Ryder (7). The boys describe their happiest times as sporting with their dad, fishing, swimming, playing football, baseball, or shooting hoops.

Justin earned a degree in mechanical engineering (like his sister) and enjoyed a successful job at Aberdeen Machine Tool, in Aberdeen, SD after graduating from SD School of Mines. He decided to move jobs and work at the 3M plant in Aberdeen and then relocated to 3M in St. Paul, MN. There, he worked in the personal safety division. The primary product he oversaw was the disposable respirator that would become part of everyone’s mandatory uniform during Covid. Justin highly respected the people he worked with at 3M, many becoming life long friends. Nicole reports that Justin’s loyalty and honesty were valued at 3M, and that the company has been “amazing to our family.”

Justin’s faith was a core sense of strength and peace for him, especially these last few years when going through his illness. Justin never questioned "why me" when being diagnosed but more saying "OK, what are we going to do about it."

The Keough family was supported by a village of neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members who did everything from running errands, going to doctor appointments, sending cards, gifts and food, snow removal, lawn mowing, and taking the Keough Trio to their numerous events. More importantly were the prayers that were said in honor of Justin and his family from across the globe. These acts of kindness made them realize that they were not alone in this journey. This support provided the family strength to enter new challenges especially when it came to Justin's cancer. They are forever grateful.

He is survived by: his beloved wife, Nicole Keough, and sons, Vaughn Lee, Dylan Reid, and Ryder James; father, Donald Keough; sister, Jodi (Jim) Ehlers; brother, Casey (Heidi) Keough; nieces and nephews, Shaelyn, Alex, Michaela, David, Roy, Rand, Ashten (Zach), Hardin, Bret, Jessica (Spence); mother-in-law, Diane Vaughn; sister-in-law, Adrienne Vaughn (Corey Brunsvold); and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Justin is preceded in death by: his mother, Marilyn Keough; father-in-law, David Vaughn; and grandparents, Fred and Louise Miller, Joe and Clara Keough, and Olaf Jorgensen.

Minnesota services:

Visitation 4:00 - 6:00 pm Friday, March 6 at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home (Lino Lakes), 7050 Lake Dr. (County Hwy. 23) followed by sharing of memories at 6:00 pm.

Visitation 10:00 - 11:00 am Saturday, March 7 at St. Joseph of the Lakes Catholic Church, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. A luncheon will be served following the Mass.

The Mass will be livestreamed using the following link.

South Dakota services:

Celebration of Life and Interment at the Nemo Cemetery, Summer 2026 (date to be determined).

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the family and will be used for memorials in Justin's memory.

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