Keith J. Bougie

Keith James Bougie, a man of unwavering faith, humor, and a deep love for his family, passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the age of 89.

Born in 1936, Keith was the eldest child of Helen (Naughter) and Raymond Bougie. He grew up in St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood. He often reminisced about his time at St. Agnes High School, where, despite his self-proclaimed academic shortcomings, he charmed his way into the hearts of many, even serving as class president. He held a special gratitude for the nuns who ensured he stayed in school.

A proud veteran, Keith served in the Air Force and held particularly fond memories of his time in Hawaii. While he initially felt a calling to the priesthood, fate intervened when he met Ruby Synsteby, the woman with whom he would build a life. They married in June 1959 and together shared 60 years of marriage before Ruby's passing in 2019. Their family life, with seven children, was described as fun, crazy, loving, sorrowful, humorous, and everything life should be.

Keith was usually one to accommodate Ruby with her sometimes out-of-the-box ideas for the family. One summer Ruby thought it would be a great idea to raise chickens in the backyard. Turned out there were seven roosters in the dozen chickens she acquired which necessitated catching and caging them in the garage each evening. Always cooperative, when the fall arrived Keith took the lead as we learned the real-life process of turning those beloved pet chickens into chicken dinner. He said “No!” to her idea of a pig the next year.

Family vacations varied between short excursions to state parks and long-distance car camping trips. Initially, tent camping was an adventure filled with memories of attempting to secure tent poles in the rain and defending the food stash from hungry wildlife. Eventually Keith and Ruby bought a pop-up camper that saw the family through thousands of miles from Mexico to Canada, California to Maine. Keith loved to drive and was at home in the driver’s seat with his arm halfway out the window, contributing to his uneven farmer tan each summer. Each camping trip was filled with large bonfires and Keith’s famous blue-fog ghost stories.

Keith had a successful career with the U.S. Postal Service, rising to the rank of station manager before his retirement in 1992. Not one to sit still, he continued to work at Seagate, Capital Securities, Kappy Liquors, and eventually A&A Auto with his son Andrew, from which he retired at the age of 86 in 2022.

In the later chapter of his life, Keith embraced new passions. He found immense joy in taking piano lessons and at one point had three pianos in his living room! He also enjoyed spending afternoons fishing with his grandsons. Beginning when all the grandsons were young, Keith would pack them in the car and head out to a local lake. What started as a fun afternoon activity became a cherished time in his later years.

Keith loved hosting his sons and grandsons for poker and billiard parties. At the beginning, he would write up invitations and mail them out, but eventually got the hang of using his smart phone to text everyone.

Keith loved spending time watering his grass and gardening. From rose bushes and marigold plantings at the old house, Keith continued expanding his gardening skills all the way into this summer. He enjoyed learning about new plants and flowers and wandering around Gerten’s nursery. Sitting outside to have a cigarette, surveying his yard, and waving to passers-by, Keith became a fixture on his new block in northeast Minneapolis.

Family was always the focus of Keith’s life. From the beginning of his marriage, he worked hard to provide for Ruby and his ever-expanding family, taking part-time jobs as needed. After retiring, he spent hours driving to the homes of his children and grandchildren, often arriving with takeout Chinese or Italian from Yarusso’s. The home he shared with Ruby and then his new bungalow, was often filled with laughter, religious and political discussions, and whatever game happened to be on the TV.

A devoted Catholic, Keith strongly desired to pass on his Catholic faith to his children. He prioritized sending his children to Catholic grade school and high school and never shied away from discussing religious and spiritual matters. He was pleased that his children and grandchildren brought spouses into the faith and baptized all of their children. Keith truly tried to live a life of faith and looked forward to going to heaven.

He is survived by his seven children, Catherine Carlson (Steven), Caroline Hooper, Allen, Andrew, Mary Helen Amery (Michael), Naomi Erickson (Charles), and Ted (Barry Krinke). He also leaves behind many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and three siblings. Keith was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ruby; son, David; and granddaughter, Stephanie Carlson.

Mass of Christian Burial for Keith will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, July 2 at The Church of St. Agnes, 548 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. Visitation at the church from 9:30 - 10:30 AM Wednesday.

Private interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery where he will be laid to rest beside his wife, Ruby and son, David.