Benedictine Sr. Keith (Hildegarde) Eickhoff

Friday, Jul. 01, 2016

Sr. Keith (Hildegarde) Eickhoff died June 22, 2016, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, Minn.

Hildegarde was born March 2, 1922, to Joseph and Mary (Hussmann) Eickhoff in New Munich, Minn. She attended St. Martin Public School in St. Martin and Saint Benedict’s High School in St. Joseph, Minn. On Aug. 28, 1939, she entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery, was received into the novitiate on June 22, 1943, made first monastic profession on July 11, 1944, and perpetual monastic profession on July 11, 1947. 

Sr. Keith graduated from St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing and was licensed as an R.N. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing education with a minor in philosophy at St. Louis University and a master’s degree in nursing education from Marquette University. She also attended the College of Saint Benedict, the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and Weber State College in Ogden. In addition, Sr. Keith was certified in coronary care, prepared for pastoral ministry through clinical pastoral education and also pursued programs to continue her education and maintain her R.N. status.  

Nursing was the focus of Sr. Keith’s ministry for many years. She served as a clinical nurse and educator at St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing, as well as director of the program, and as director of Nursing Service. Her nursing ministry also took her to Saint Benedict’s Hospital School of Nursing in Ogden, where she worked in nursing education and was assistant director of the program and also served in pastoral care.

After Sr. Keith returned to Minnesota, she worked for a number of years as assistant in the monastic library. She was involved in crafts, especially Hardanger embroidery, and served in the archives and as a hostess in the Art and Heritage Place. In 2014, she went to live at Saint Scholastica Convent, where she undertook a ministry of prayer and community living. 

Sr. Keith is survived by the sisters of her Benedictine community, her sister Bernadette (Sylvan) Nierhausen, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers John and Arthur; and her sisters, Hildebrand Eickhoff, OSB, Mary Dominic Eickhoff, OSB, and Marcella Landeberg.      

The Eucharist of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn. Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Retirement Fund.