Thursday, October 1, 2026
David Earle Keniston passed away Aug. 10, 2026, in Castle Rock, Colorado, surrounded by family at the age of 89. Born Sept. 16, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Earle and Dorothy Keniston, Dave graduated from high school in Fremont, Nebraska, in 1954.
That same year, he entered the U.S. Army, completing basic training and Army Anti-Aircraft School at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was stationed in Massachusetts and honorably discharged in 1956.
Dave continued his education at the University of Nebraska and later Midland University in Fremont, graduating in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He married Beverly M. Dahl in 1959. After graduation, Dave began his long career with Hormel Foods, eventually serving in leadership roles at plants throughout Arizona, Nebraska, Minnesota, Washington, California, Georgia and Texas.
In 1991, following Hormel’s acquisition of Jennie-O Turkey, Dave became senior vice president of sales and marketing. He retired in 1995 after more than three decades with Hormel and Jennie-O.
Following his retirement, Dave and Bev returned to Texas to be closer to their two daughters and their families, who lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. They made their home in Pecan Plantation Country Club, just outside Granbury, Texas. Dave was also a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, the Masonic Lodge, the Nile Shrine Temple and a member of the First Christian Church of Granbury. They enjoyed family, travel, golf, bridge, and an active lifestyle. He is preceded in death by his wife Bev, and infant daughter Wendy Sue Keniston.
Dave is survived by his sister and her husband, Martha and Jim Raymond of Mount Pleasant South Carolina; daughters Debbi S. Haynie and her husband Travis of Franktown, Colorado, and Cindi K. Dryden and her husband Troy of Fort Worth, Texas/Temecula, California; grandchildren Blake Dryden, Trevor Haynie, Bailey Dryden, Lexie Haynie, and Lyssa Haynie; and great-granddaughter Parker Dryden.
