Myrlen "Keith" Atkinson

Myrlen “Keith” Atkinson, 87 of Timnath, passed away on August 3, 2023. Born April 13, 1936 to Lyle and Edith Atkinson in Fargo, Oklahoma, he was the baby of 11 children. The family moved to Colorado when Keith was 2 years old on a trailer pulled by a John Deere tractor that the family still owns today. The family settled in Rye but soon moved to Pueblo, where Keith and the younger siblings attended school and he met Beverly Bratun. He and Beverly were married August 8, 1957. They immediately moved to Falcon, where he had been working on a ranch. In 1958 they moved to Pueblo where they built their first home and started a dairy. He also worked for Cortese Sheet Metal and Triplex during this time. While in Pueblo, they had two children, Vicki (1959) and Dale (1961). In 1966 they moved to Sugar City to join his brother Leon and his mother and father. Monty, his third child, was born in 1967. Keith and his brother leased and farmed around 1000 acres for the next several years. At this time he also helped his brother Bud, building and roofing houses in Pueblo. His construction skills served him well as he and Beverly remodeled the farm house in Sugar City several times. During this time, he and his family traveled extensively going on road trips mostly to visit friends or relatives. His siblings and their spouses were notorious for playing pitch until all hours of the morning anytime they got together. Keith started rodeoing in the late 1950’s and the family traveled to rodeos near and far during the 1960s and 1970s. Keith participated in steer roping, bulldogging and calf roping. He met and remained friends with many rodeo families. In 1986, Keith and Beverly divorced and he soon moved back to Falcon to work on the ranch again. In 2001, he married Jane Green and dedicated the next 19 years to her and their home in Fountain. It was at this time that he started building storage sheds and continued up until the present time completing, selling and delivering over 220 buildings all over the state. Upon her passing he moved to Timnath where he resided with his youngest son, Monty, Beverly, Ryder and Tayten for the next 2 ½ years. He was preceded in death by his parents, and all 10 of his siblings: Lyle Atkinson (Father) 1889-1970, Edith Atkinson (Mother) 1892-1987, Reva Arlene Latta (Sister) 1911-2005, Katherine May Latta (Sister) 1913-2009, Loren Russell “Buster” Atkinson (Brother) 1914-2006, Thelma Jewel Flock (Sister) 1915-2002, Alma “Lucille” Wisner Champ (Sister) 1916-2020, Ronald Ernest “Bud” Atkinson (Brother) 1920-2012, Mary Margaret Van Camp (Sister) 1922-1992, Wanda “Faye” Purvis (Sister) 1926-2023, Betty Jean Martin (Sister) 1930-2013, Elmer “Leon” Atkinson (Brother) 1932-2008. He is survived by his three children Vicki Powell of Ordway, Dale (Julie) Atkinson of Elizabeth and Monty (Beverly) Atkinson of Timnath. Grandchildren Cameron (Tracey) Salzbrenner of La Junta, Chelsea Powell of Ordway, Chase Atkinson of Elizabeth, and Ryder and Tayten Atkinson of Timnath. Great-grandchildren Carter and Cash Salzbrenner of La Junta. Also a multitude of nieces and nephews scattered all across the United States.

Myrlen "Keith" Atkinson

April 13, 1936 - August 3, 2023