Thursday, October 1, 2026
Stephen Keith Newsom was born on July 3, 1939, just in time for a 4th of July picnic. He grew up in Eugene, Oregon, in a small house shared with brother Jim, mother and grandfather, near the University of Oregon, and the train tracks.
Keith was a lifelong member of The Obsidians in Eugene and climbed all three Sisters (North, Middle and South Sister) by the time he graduated from Eugene High School in 1957. Keith attended Stanford University on a Navy Scholarship for three years.
Missing the familiar green of Oregon, he returned to his ailing Grandfather and competed his studies at the University of Oregon graduating in 1963. After graduation, he moved further north to earn a Master's in Geography at University of Washington. While at UW, Keith met, and married, Dawn MacDonald.
Keith and Dawn spent the next two years in Victoria, Canada, while Keith taught geography at the University of Victoria. They shared many adventures, including a multi-month journey through Europe in Volkswagen van. In later years, their adventures included trips with the Miata club.
A summer job at the Washington Highway Department led to full-time work on mainframe computers for the Washington State Highway Department as a computer programmer. Designing roads and bridges became Keith's true professional calling.
With Dawn's help, they found a home in Olympia with a basement for Keith's lifelong passion, model railroading. Keith's model railroad layout grew to fill the basement with a model of The Milwaukee Railroad. Joining the Olympia Model Railroad group, attending Milwaukee and other railroad group conventions was soon important to both Newsom's.
After Dawn passed away in 2005, Keith explored the world through train tours, with friends and family, including second wife, Gayle Washburn Berge.
When Keith decided to enlarge his house and basement, he realized another lifelong dream: a train track around the house with a "Little Joe" to sit on and ride around backyard and house — what fun. Many neighborhood children, as well as friends and their grandchildren enjoyed this hobby.
Keith passed away on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. Keith's family included nieces and nephews Susan, Virginia, Nancy, Katherine, Brian, Steven and Laura. Keith is survived by his second wife Gayle, and her children Christian, John and Karen. We miss you Keith, and will remember your smile every time we hear a train.
