Keith Stewart Hone of Levan, formally of Benjamin, returned to our Heavenly Father on Friday, June 6th, 2025. After living a full and remarkable 95 years, he was eagerly welcomed and reunited with his lifelong and eternal sweetheart Elaine, his parents, siblings, and many dear friends.

Keith was born on June 1, 1930, in Benjamin, Utah, where he was raised by his parents Arlynn Hone and Melva Stewart Hone. His mind was sharp and clear until his last breath, recalling and sharing stories from the past with precise detail, as friends and family listened and laughed. Despite a few lingering ailments, Keith’s body and determination remained strong, as he was able to continue working in his shop, creating works of art up until a few weeks before his passing.

He spent much of his youth working his own family’s farms as well as many other farms in Benjamin. He graduated from Spanish Fork High School, Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree, and Utah State University for additional certifications.

Because of his dedication and love for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Keith served a mission in the Copenhagen Denmark Mission. Upon his return, on June 18th, 1953 he married (and was shortly after sealed in the Manti Temple) his sweetheart and love of his life, Elaine Wyler. He was a loving and loyal husband for the 69 years they were together. Keith proudly and successfully served our country in the Army and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. He was trained as a Tank Commander and later was assigned to the Postal Dept. He was fortunate to be able to have his young wife and first born son, as well as the birth of his second son, by his side throughout his time in Germany.

Keith began his career as an educator, teaching in his earlier days– drafting, math, and construction. He and his students built cabins up Hobble Creek Canyon, where they still stand today. He joined his dad and brother in the cabinetry world at Craftsman Kitchens in Orem and then Hone’s Cabinets in Benjamin. He then later returned to Nebo School District teaching wood and metal shop. He taught in Murray, Goshen, at Spanish Fork High School, and lastly retired from Spanish Fork Junior High to continue his talent and love of teaching, in his ultimate dream of wood carving, engraving and sculpting. Keith, Elaine and Craig, together built a wonderful business, Hone’s Engraving, in Benjamin, where they traveled the country, including Hawaii and Canada, teaching the craft of wood sculpting, inspiring over 2000 artists.

Keith started a carving club that became very popular in Utah. He was selling his pieces out of a gallery in Sedona, AZ. With the new invention of an engraving tool by someone who would become one of his closest friends, Keith helped bring to life and gave context to the remarkable high speed engraver, which became a pivotal instrument to his work and his professional instruction. Keith’s joy came from teaching his unique craftsmanship at his studio in Benjamin and from really anywhere in the world.  With his favorite medium, gentle spirit, and great equipment, he worked with family, treasured old friends, and always made new ones.

Keith and Elaine were blessed with 4 beautiful children together – Gary (Gaylynne), Steve (Elizabeth), Craig (Robin), and Kathy. He was an incredible example to his children, instilling his most inspiring qualities of strength, resiliency, kindness, generosity, humor, curiosity, and service.

When Keith wasn’t working, providing for his family or teaching seminars, he spent most of his adult life building his dream cabin in Fairview Canyon, hiking, fishing and hunting, of course with his family. He also loved cooking from scratch, inventing new “fill a need” projects that peppered his home and shop and are likely in many friends and families homes, chatting with old, dear friends and loving on his furry companions.

Keith leaves, all who knew and loved him, a remarkable legacy of service, creation, love and friendship. He is survived by his 4 children and their sweethearts, 16 grandchildren, their spouses, 30 great-grandchildren, sister Arleene Horton & sister in-law Arlene Hone and many close friends. He was preceded in death by his sweetheart Elaine, parents, older sister, Geri & brother in-law Basil Talbot & little brother, LaVell Hone, daughter in-law, Linda Staheli (Gary) Hone, and many dear friends.

Keith was a dedicated and active member of the Church, serving in many callings in his wards and served the Lord in many other capacities over the years. Keith was a true Christian in every sense of the word, loving the Lord and loving his neighbors.

He was a friend to everyone and knew they all had something unique and special to show, particularly in their artwork, and was especially talented in helping them find it. We all have beautiful things about Keith that we hold dear and that will always be a part of our own personal treasures.

He is well known and highly respected as a master creator, an artist in its purest form. How lucky he is to have lived a life that would bring him back to his sweetheart, and together humbly, at the feet of the Ultimate Master and Creator.

There will be a Graveside service held in Keith’s honor, Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 10 a.m. at the Benjamin Cemetery and a luncheon for family and friends at the Levan LDS church following the services.