Vernon Keith (Swede) Ferguson

Vernon Keith (Swede) Ferguson, 89, of Dayton, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at Aspire of Gowrie Healthcare Center. Funeral services for Keith will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dayton, Iowa, with Rev. Rod Meyer officiating. Burial will follow at Dayton Cemetery with Graveside Military Rites conducted by Peterson American Legion Post #323 of Dayton. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 1, 2021 at Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton.

Keith was born on May 1, 1932, in Wilkin County, Minnesota. He graduated from Laurens, Iowa Schools in 1950. In 1953, Keith enlisted in the army and spent two years stationed in Germany as an auditor for the army. He toured Europe during his enlistment and enjoyed the time he spent there. After he was discharged from the army in 1955, Keith enrolled in Drake University to study law and tax. It was at Drake University that Keith met Mary, his wife. In 1956, Keith was united in marriage to Mary Scott on July 1, 1956, of which they had celebrated 65 years of marriage.

Keith and Mary lived in Des Moines briefly after marriage; Mary taught school while Keith attended law school. In 1957 they moved to Perry, Iowa to be closer to family and raise their growing family. Keith graduated from law school in 1958.

In 1965, Keith moved his family to Dayton, and Keith later became a partner with the law firm McCarville, Bennett & Beisser in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Keith eventually opened his own office in Dayton as a general practitioner with his main focus on tax law and probate. He left the partnership and became a sole practitioner in Dayton. Keith was a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and Webster County Bar for over 50 years.

Keith was a member of the VFW Peterson Post #323; Dayton Lions Club; Lifetime Member of the Moose Lodge; Dayton Community Club; sat on the Dayton Light Board for 25 years; Dayton City attorney for many years; member of Emanuel Lutheran Church and the Dayton Country Club.

Keith was very active in his community and loved to volunteer especially at rodeo time. He was an avid golfer in his earlier years; loved to bowl and sponsored many bowling teams. He rounded up investors to keep the bowling alley open in Dayton and succeeded to keep it open for several years. One of Keith’s favorite things to do was to travel. He took his family on many vacations, traveling to almost every state in the country including Canada and Mexico. He later took his wife, Mary and his in-laws, Harold and Louise Scott to Sweden. They also traveled to Germany on two trips, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy and Czech Republic. Keith was proud of his heritage, and you would often see him dressed in his Ferguson kilts from Scotland.

Keith helped many people over the years, and he loved visiting with everyone he met. He loved to give out nicknames, especially if you knew him well. Keith’s greatest love was his wife, Mary and his family. We have always been a musical family and Keith’s favorite pastime was listening to Mary play the piano or the accordion. He would always sing along or play along with his harmonica.

Keith is survived by his wife, Mary, of Dayton; son, Bryan (Marilyn) Ferguson of Dayton; son, Brent Ferguson of Dayton, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Beverly Ferguson of Fort Dodge, Iowa; daughter, Holly Larrington of Dayton, Iowa; and son, Wade Ferguson of Dayton, Iowa. Grandchildren, Jake Carlson of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Chad (Vanessa) Carlson of Texas; Kyle (Brittany) Ferguson of Boone, Iowa; Rachel Bauer of Dayton, Iowa; Lori Newhouse of Boone, Iowa; Heather Newhouse; Jeremy Jinxx Ferguson of California; Autumn (Kyle) Grell of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Kris Geilenfeld of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Holly Schrauth of Moorland, Iowa; Travis Becker of Indianola, Iowa; Angela Mackenzie of Pocahontas, Iowa; Jill (Ray) Hyson of Blue Springs, Mo; Justin Larrington of Faribault, MN; Michelle Temple of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Jennifer Zupan; 28 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Perry Ferguson, grandson, Noah Ferguson, his parents, Vernon and Clarice Ferguson; his brothers, Rance Ferguson and LaMont Ferguson; and his sisters, Gwenna Groff and Lana Buckley.