RUPERT • Keith Golden Noble was born in Rupert, Idaho, on March 29, 1923, to Francis and Gladys Minerva (Titcomb) Noble.
Keith was the sixth of their 10 children. Keith grew up farming with his dad and brothers northeast of Rupert. He loved to ride horses and wrestle with his brothers. He graduated from Rupert High School in 1941. Keith then traveled to California for metal fabrication training at Santa Monica Tech and then took a job at Douglas Aircraft Company. In 1942, Keith met the love of his life, Beth Jorgensen of Burley. They enjoyed a fun-filled courtship, including many nights at the Y-Dell, and were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on Nov. 3, 1942.
As a first big adventure of their married life and during the winter of ’42 to ’43, Keith and Beth worked in the war effort in Hawthorne, Nev. Keith worked in his trained field of metal fabrication, and Beth worked filling depth charges with gun powder. In the spring of 1943, they began their farm work on their new farm in Rupert. In 1944, they welcomed their first child, daughter, LaRae. In 1944, Keith’s desire to serve his country saw him enlist in the United States Navy. With the Navy, Keith and Beth moved to Biloxi, Miss. After the war was over, they returned home to Rupert and their farm. From 1945 to 1956, they farmed and grew a crop of boys, with Kelly, Stanley, Scott and Rod joining the clan. During this time, Keith built the family a new home on the farm, showing his growing all-around skills.
In late 1956, they embarked on a new great adventure and moved to Seattle, Wash., Keith being hired on the spot with the Boeing Company. Once settled in their home in Renton, Wash., their last two children, Randy and Pam, joined the crew. In 1959, they became business owners and opened an A&W Drive-Inn in Renton. Keith soon had the reputation and notoriety for brewing the best root beer in the West. The kids grew up learning how to truly work and appreciate this example of their mom and dad. In 1972, they sold the A&W and Keith embarked on his third and longest career, as he trained as a truck driver and drove for the next 16 years, most of it being for Burlington Northern Transport Company. Beth also worked during these years for Boeing. Keith and Beth retired together in 1988.
Keith was a quiet man who loved serving the Lord. For more than 15 years, Keith served in bishoprics as a counselor with four different bishops. He held many other callings in church from Scoutmaster to stake Young Men president and stake high councilor. In 1990, Keith and Beth served their first LDS mission as full-time missionaries and helped open the new Arizona Tucson Mission. Later, they served their second mission in Seattle, being assigned to work with new Cambodian members.
Keith leaves quite a posterity. He and Beth have 28 grandchildren and soon to be 39 great-grandchildren. In 1999 and after more than 40 years in Seattle, they moved back home to the Magic Valley. Living again in Rupert, they have enjoyed their lives and renewed many friendships. Keith returned to his heavenly home on June 4, 2012, after a four-year-long trial with Alzheimer’s disease.
Keith was preceded in death by his father and mother; son, Stanley Brent; and eight brothers and sisters, Grover, Luther, Cecil, Elneda, Louise, LaMar, Verla and Esther. He is survived by his wife, Beth Noble of Rupert; his children, LaRae and Wayne MacGregor of Seattle, Wash., Kelly and Joyce Noble of Preston, Scott and Terry Noble of Coeur d’Alene, Rod and Wendy Noble of Auburn, Wash., Randy and Cheryl Noble of Burley, and Pam and Dave Huff of Maple Valley, Wash.; and his sister, Ada Searle of Nampa.
The Noble family would like to thank all of our family and friends for their cherished love and support to Keith and Beth. Also, they express their appreciation to Rosetta Assisted Living and to Horizon Home Health and Hospice.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 11, at the Rupert LDS Stake Center, 324 E. 18th St. in Rupert, with Bishop Kelly Bessire officiating. Burial will be in the Rupert Cemetery with military rites provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization. Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Sunday, June 10, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St. in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Monday at the church.
