Keith Edwin McKinnon

Keith Edwin McKinnon, age 80 passed away on Friday, June 17 in Kalispell. He was born on October 14, 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah the son of Francis Edwin and Emma Louise (Merrill) McKinnon.

He received his education in Salt Lake City and graduated from South High School in 1953. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years of active duty from 1954 – 1958. He later graduated from the University of Utah in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

He was married to Carla Ann Robbins in 1955. He later married Julianne Grant in 1974. He later married Kimberly Guseman in 1985. While working in Thailand in 1997 he met Buachum Wangngam in Bangkok. They were married in 1999 and they moved back to Salt Lake City and lived happily together for the last 17 years in Utah and Montana, where Buachum attended school and worked as a certified nursing administrator.

Keith was dedicated to 40 years of service to the Defense Electronic Systems industry, advancing from electronics technician through various management positions to Executive Vice President of four different defense companies. He worked closely with all of the United States Military services. He traveled extensively worldwide for more than 25 years, working more than 38 foreign military services and governments. He retired from L-3 Communications Company in Salt Lake City in 2004 and moved to their permanent home on Flathead Lake in Polson.

Keith is survived by his wife Buachum of Ronan; his four children, Darrell McKinnon and wife LeeAnn; Sheryl Collier, Vincent McKinnon and wife Janet and Victoria McKinnon; his brother Gary McKinnon and wife Linda and sister Marilyn Rupper and husband Lynn and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews and cousins.

A short memorial service will held on Saturday, June 25 at 9 a.m. at The Lake Funeral Home followed by burial at Lakeview Cemetery with full military honors. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thelakefuneralhomeandcrematory.com. 

Arrangements are under the directions of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory in Polson.