The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement on January 26, 2018, to announce the death of one of its leaders:
“We are deeply saddened to share with you that Elder Von G. Keetch, General Authority Seventy, died this evening following a brief and sudden illness. Elder Keetch has been serving as a General Authority Seventy since April of 2015. Among other assignments, Elder Keetch has been serving as the executive director of the Public Affairs Department. His loss is deeply felt, and we extend our love and prayers to his wife Bernice, his children and loved ones, and pray for the Lord’s blessings of peace to be with them at this tender time.”
Elder Keetch received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University in 1984. In 1987, he received a juris doctor degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. During 1988 and 1989, Elder Keetch served as a judicial clerk to Judge George C. Pratt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Subsequently, he served as a judicial clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger and Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court. He practiced law at Kirton McConkie from 1990 to 2015.
Elder Keetch has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Germany Dtisseldorf Mission, counselor in a bishopric, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, and Area Seventy.
Von Gary Keetch was born in Provo, Utah, on March 17, 1960. He married Bernice Pymm in November 1981. They are the parents of six children.
