Keith Darwin Bayha

Mar 5, 1940 -

Jun 2, 2026

Keith Darwin Bayha, born on March 5, 1940, in Emmett County, Mich., passed away in Alaska on June 2, 2026. Keith lived a long and meaningful life, full of adventure and accomplishments. He documented many in his writings, professional and non-professional publications, journals and an autobiography. Prominent among these are the seven-volume "History of Muzzle Loading in Alaska," "Anatomy of a River" and Bayha family genealogy.

He grew up in a civil war era farmhouse in southern Michigan and graduated from Bellevue High School and Michigan State University while enrolled in a football scholarship. In Bellevue High School, as captain of the football team, his coach often commented about his "command presence."

As a youngster he dreamed of trapping in Alaska when exploring fields and pastures. He retired from a 37-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service serving in Michigan, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington D.C., Colorado, and Alaska. He will be remembered by his colleagues for his role in creating and elevating the discipline "Instream Flow," which is the quantification of water requirements of fish and wildlife and other uses of water in streams and lakes and securing their protection by establishing water rights.

Keith was an active leader among muzzle-loading enthusiasts and trappers in Alaska and nationally. The South-Central Chapter of Alaska Trappers Association recently created a scholarship in his name awarded yearly. His hobbies included hunting, birdwatching, painting, trapping and muzzleloader target shooting, and other shooting events. While working in Washington, D.C., in the 1970s, he created a painting key to elevating interest in stopping the development of a scenic valley in Idaho. The painting is now displayed in a visitor's center in Idaho.

He and his wife, Beverly participated in national muzzle-loading shoots in Indiana and Arizona. He served on the NMLRA national board for two years and as officer of several organizations in Alaska. In his younger years, he officiated at baseball and football games. He especially enjoyed side coaching young football players. He prided himself as having worked at McDonalds in the 1960s to pay off college loans. He was predeceased by his parents, former wife and a brother. Survivors include his wife Beverly, sister, two sons, stepdaughter, stepson, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.