Michelle Elizabeth (Robbins) Keenan passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 19, 2026, with her loving husband Larry at her side. Though she was a private person who did not like the spotlight, we feel it’s important to share and celebrate the positive impact of a kind and beautiful soul that was our Michelle.
Michelle was born May 8, 1951, in Gunnison, to her beloved parents, Bob and Kay Robbins. She lived what she considered an idyllic childhood on the family ranch at Iola. She was part of the fifth generation of the proud Stevens family ranching legacy. She cherished and loved that honor dearly. Those golden years in Iola were filled with learning to ride and care for an ornery Shetland pony named Lucky and thriving in a one-room school house where she attended kindergarten through sixth-grade. She would always reminisce about her happy days in Iola, being a fun-loving and free ranch kid with her brother Bob and sisters Becky and Liz. So much to enjoy – family picnics, raising show steers and laughing while bottle feeding calves born during spring blizzards, watching them bound around in the ranch house basement. She also savored spending time with her uncle Clyde, paternal Goodwin grandparents who owned the Elk Horn resort in Iola and her maternal Stimac grandparents in Crested Butte. Iola adventure stories would be shared with glee through the years, first with her nephew Gabe, and later her son Jason and all the next generation kids.
In 1964, her family had to leave the Iola ranch to make way for Blue Mesa Reservoir. The entire family was heartbroken. Her parents purchased the Crescent Motel in Gunnison to start over and make a living. Life at the Crescent included much hard work, but a role in which she shined was watching over her baby sister Sarah, a protective love that lasted a lifetime. Michelle helped with the family motel for over a decade. Her dad would often marvel that for a reserved person, “Michelle could charm monkeys out of the trees with her smile,” as he would watch her interact with customers diplomatically. Most fortunately, a beautiful ranch north of the old Iola homestead was still in the family. The Steuben ranch became a haven for the family. With the horse herd and a hay crop, the family stayed connected to the land.
Michele enjoyed her Gunnison school years, dazzling with her baton twirling for the GHS band, being involved in Latin Club, Kandy Kanes and cheering on her brother’s sporting events. She graduated from high school in 1969, and from Western State College in 1973 with a degree in special education. Supporting the education of children was a life-long passion, sparked when she was a student teacher in Gunnison, and then later teaching underprivileged students in Denver.
In May of 1975, Michelle married the love of her life, Larry Keenan. His support and love for her was a source of joy that she cherished for the rest of her life. In the span of over 50 years of marriage, they built a wonderful and admirable life together. Through the decades they opened their doors to friends and family that needed a life reset, to mend a broken heart, or deal with health issues.
The entire family suffered a life-changing tragedy in 1977, when her sister Becky was killed in a car accident. Sadly, subsequent circumstances led Michelle and her husband Larry to leave Gunnison to secure work and rebuild their lives in Casper, Wyoming. In 1980, their joy was recaptured when they welcomed their son Jason into the world. Michelle took on the role of motherhood with complete contentment and elation.
Michelle had a successful career in aviation support, first at the Casper Air FBO and Junction Jet (that later became West Star Aviation), in Grand Junction. She chose to spend any time off supporting and attending her son’s various school, sports and music activities, and visiting her parents as often as possible. She reveled in helping her mom plant flowers and was thrilled to drive a tractor during haying season at Steuben.
Although her professional life was rewarding, her heart was always with ranch life. In 2011, she and Larry moved to Colorado’s eastern slope to manage and work on a ranch with cattle and haying operations, and, excitedly for Michelle, racehorses. In her daily phone conversations with her dad she would relay all events horse, cattle and hay with enthusiasm. Most importantly for her and Larry, the move brought an opportunity to spend more time with their precious grandchildren, Evan Marie and Jasper. Always the lights of her life, no matter how much pain she was in, any time spent relaying their adventures or being with them would erase any troubles and bring pure bliss!
Outside forces, and then health challenges, brought about some detours from the dreams of a little girl who just wanted to live at the Iola ranch forever. Michelle may have had to be away from Gunnison for many years, but those Iola dreams remained. Just for the record, Michelle recently confirmed with her wonderful belly laugh that there were no peach orchards in Iola.
Michelle encouraged loved ones to get outside and fully appreciate God‘s creations, and have some fun. She was a light of love that will remain forever in the lives she touched. She lived every day in gratitude, and cherished her loved ones. As per her final wishes, formal celebrations of her life will be private for immediate family. If your heart so moves you, a donation in her honor to a charity supporting the health and/or education of children would be most appreciated! (e.g. St. Jude, Native American schools St. Joseph’s of South Dakota, or St. Labre of Montana). Alternatively, please remember her fondly while appreciating a lovely day, or listening to a beautiful song. She believed music was medicine for lifting the spirits and soothing the soul.
