Keith attended two grades of school in Guernsey, Wyoming and moved to Torrington, Wyoming to finish up his schooling. He graduated from Torrington High School in 1957. He attended and graduated what is now known as Eastern Wyoming College and was also a graduate of the University of Colorado Graduate School of Banking.

He married Qwendolyn F. McKie June 3, 1962, in Torrington, Wyoming at the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church and they couple resided in Torrington from that time forward. To this marriage two sons were born, Michael Dean and Jeffery Alan.

Keith worked in the Chemistry Department with Holly Sugar Corp. and had a position in the Chemistry Department in California which he turned down to take employment with CB&Q Railroad for two years.
He began his banking career that spanned 33 years beginning in 1962, all spent in serving Goshen County area. For 21 years he worked for Citizen’s National Bank & Trust Co. where he served as cashier, senior VP, trust officer, and director. He took great pride in the fact that he was the officer assigned the task of rebuilding the records department after it completely burned on Saturday, February 22, 1969. The bank reopened the following Monday, as usual, only located in the Trail Hotel Building, where the bank remained located until the new building was completed that was located at 2000 Main Street.
He joined the Lingle State Bank in Lingle, Wyoming in 1983 where he served as cashier, executive VP, president, board member and holding company officer. He chose to retire in 1995, upon the sale of the bank.
He was past officer and director of the Torrington Chamber of Commerce.

He was an active Jaycee serving director and officer and was the recipient of the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award. Keith was named as one of America’s Outstanding Young Men in 1975. He was a charter member and officer of the Goshen County Cancer Unit. He was a charter member of officer of the Kiwanis Club of Goshen County. He was president of Torrington Little League Baseball and helped obtain the first state tournament conducted in Torrington and remained involved with the Babe Ruth Baseball club. He was a member and served as chairman of the Torrington City Planning Commission and was involved in Industrial Development. He served on the Community Hospital Foundation Board. He enjoyed his membership of the Torrington Investment Club 15 immensely and served as an officer while a member. He served as an officer of the Trailblazer Alumni Association.

Keith was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Torrington where he served as a member of the board of trustees, having served as chairman and as a member of the session as a ruling elder. He was ordained elder within the church. On April 22, 2012, he rejoined the English Lutheran Church of Our Savior where he was confirmed and enjoyed his membership there. He is survived by his son Michael Dean Whitney and his children, Brittany, Joshua, Jayden and Gabrielle; his son Jeffery’s children, Blake, Brandon and Bryce; his great grandchildren Addy and Emelia; his nieces, Julie Irvine and Sheri Nicks.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife; his son, Jeff; his sisters Marcia Ann Nicks, Beatrice Jean Whitney and two infant brothers, Ronald Dean Whitney and Leon Kent Whitney.