A popular teacher at Columbia Falls Junior High accidentally drowned in Minnesota last week.

The Cass County Sheriff's Office said that 49-year-old Peter Keller of Kalispell was swimming near a residential dock in Ten Mile Lake near Hackensack, Minnesota, when he went under on July 7. KSTP-TV in Minnesota reported that members of his party pulled him from the water and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Paramedics arrived and continued to try to resuscitate Keller but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Associated Press.

Keller taught sixth grade at School District 6 for 20 years, said junior high principal Dave Wick. Reading and social studies were his favorite and main subjects, but he taught others as well throughout his distinguished career.

"He was an extremely kind and caring teacher," Wick said. Wick said Keller brought a wealth of knowledge to the classroom and was a good team member at the school.

Catherine Nicklaus is a special education paraeducator at the junior high and worked with Keller for 15 years in his classroom.

"He was a gentle, caring sincere man," she said. "He had a great sense of humor. Family came first for him."

She said he had a quiet presence with his students.

"He was very patient with students," she said. "He never raised his voice. He was very calm and a good listener."

Teacher Anne Smith recalled that Keller had his class say the pledge of allegiance to the flag every morning, even though it wasn't required.

"He stood up for family and what he thought was right," she said.