Debra Lynn Kellas

Debra Lynn Kellas, age 62, passed away unexpectedly August 12th, 2021, due to Covid 19 complications. She entered this world January 31st,1959 in Pipestone, MN.

Debbie worked for Midwest Overhead Crane Corporation for several years. She loved her job and her position there. This is what her employer shared about Deb:

“Debbie was not only a fellow employee at Midwest Overhead Crane she was first and foremost a friend to us all. She was the first person you saw when you came to work as her desk faced the front door, and she always had a smile and kind word. Debbie was absolutely the best and treated us like family! Debbie knew the names of all our spouses, children, and grandchildren.

Debbie baked a cake every year for your birthday (whether you wanted it or not) she loved to bake, and she seemed at her best when others were happy. She was the first to console you when life handed us tragedy and the first to celebrate our good fortune. In short Debbie was family to us all and will be solely missed and live in our hearts and thoughts forever.”

Debbie left us all with many amazing memories. If we learn anything in celebrating Debbie’s life, it is to live life with no regrets. Like everyone, Debbie had many challenges and hurdles in her life, however, her centers were her sons, grandchildren, her sister, and friends. Her default attributes in life were her pride and loyalty to her family, and to her friends. She rarely missed a baseball or softball game, and she attended and hosted every occasion she could. Her friends were also an important aspect in her life. She cherished her old friends like family, and she celebrated new friendships like gifts.

Although Debbie spent much of her life taking care of others and fulfilling her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend in her own unique and quirky ways, she didn’t always “play by the rules”. She lived her life by her own terms. She always drove with the top down, she danced when she baked, she hosted girl’s sleepovers, and she loved to laugh. Debbie loved the color purple, sunflowers, dragonflies, ridiculously funny and romantic movies, the Monkees, Stephen King books, and she was a die-hard Vikings fan. She displayed and held close to her heart, everything her grandchildren, sister, and friends made for her (she loved the personal gestures). She also loved a good story (especially the ones that made her laugh), she was a great listener, and she gave empowering advise to the people she loved.

Debbie is preceded in death by her husband, Lyle R. Kellas; mother, Marlys Susalla; father, Stanley Buffington; and sisters-in-law Deanna Buffington and Lisa Buffington. Debbie is survived by her son, Eric Kellas and Ciel Hillyer; Jason Kellas and Aly Winnie; and her grandchildren; Brody, Ava, and Mackenzie. Debbie is also survived by her sister, Pam Petersen, and her husband Jeff; brother, Doug Buffington; brother, Randy Buffington; brother, Rod Buffington, and his wife Patty; her stepfather, Ken Susalla; many nieces and nephews, and many more family members and very close friends.

There will be a Celebration of Debbie’s Life Saturday, September 11th, at Outpost, 6141 West Highway 10, Ramsey, MN 55303, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Debbie left us all many amazing memories. If you have any memories to contribute to her memory or the memorial/celebration if life, please share.