Donald Dale Paxson, 82, of Penokee, died December 23, 2020, in Hill City, Kansas. He was born October 14, 1938, in Penokee, Kansas to Oliver Franklin and Ella Mae “Barrit” Paxson.
He was the youngest of three
sons, following in the footsteps of Jim, the oldest and Bob, the middle.
Don attended Penokee Grade School and was a graduate of Hill City
High School. During his years in high school, he enjoyed participating
in sports, especially basketball and track. He joined FFA and was a very
active member, where he held many offices not only locally, but state
offices as well. He became the first Hill City Member to receive the
prestigious American Farmer Degree. For the rest of his life, Don
remained an avid FFA Alumni Member.
On August 26, 1956, Don married the love of his life, Rea Burton at
Prairie Home Methodist Church. Throughout their marriage, the Methodist
Church was their anchor through thick and thin. They were an inseparable
couple from their junior year of high school to the day the Lord called
him home. To this union four children were born: Susan Ileene, Terry
Lynn, Sandra Dee and Gary Dale.
Farming was in Don’s blood from a very young age. He was also a
cattleman and worked in petroleum management. He later became involved
in irrigation with Ron Nickelson and Sol Roehl; thus, Northwest Electric
and Irrigation was born.
Don was a 50-year member and Past Master of the Mason’s Millbrook
Lodge AF & AM #281, Eastern Star, South Solomon Shrine Club, and
Isis Shrine Temple in Salina. As a lifetime Graham County resident, Don
was always willing and ready to make Graham County a great place to
live, work and play. He was a very community involved person. Don and
Rea served as Republican County Chairman and Chairwoman for years. He
served as a board member of the Penokee/Morland School District, the
Water Authority, and the Graham County Hospital Board for over 30 years.
As a member of Farm Bureau, he not only was a board member in his
own county, but also on the regional and state level for years.
He was active in the Graham County Conservation District, faithfully
attending meetings here as well as in Topeka. He was a trustee of
Mid-West Hospitals and traveled all over the United States to represent
all small hospitals, holding state, regional and national offices for
years. He always felt he needed to support the community hospitals and
do all he could to keep them current with new technologies. He strived
to give the community an understanding of how vital he felt the hospital
was to everyone.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and his son Terry Lynn.
Survivors include his wife Rea Paxson of the home; daughter Susan
Ileene (John) Borgstrom and their four children: daughter Anna (Tony)
Borders and daughter, Kora; son Ashley (Kris) Borgstrom; daughter Holly
and boyfriend Lucas; and son Gabe; the four children of Terry Lynn
Paxson: daughter Jenny (Jarrod) Smith and their three daughters Kally,
Abby, and Maggy and son Jaxson; son Heath (Mandy) Paxson and son Thane;
daughter Devin and boyfriend Will and daughter Terralynn; and daughter
Gabs; daughter Sandra Dee (Larry) Wenzl and their children: son Eugene
(Kelly) Wenzl, and their daughters Katherine and Brynne; son Don
(Kaitie) Wenzl and son Terry; daughter Atarah Sauter and husband Eric
and daughter Marielle; son Gary Dale (Marjorie) Paxson and his daughter
Chelsea Fountaine and husband Bob; and his two brothers Jim (Wordna)
Paxson and family, and Bob (Greta) Paxson and family.
Family was a very important part of Don’s life. Weekend trips to
Webster Lake in the old bus were a little piece of heaven. That old bus
made it on many other adventures around the country in its time. If he
met a stranger, in no time at all they were treated as a friend. His
zest for life was contagious - from his gift of gab, his singing at many
community functions, to leading you out on the dance floor! “Don as
husband, dad, granddad, great-granddad and friend, you are leaving an
empty place in our hearts, but you have given us a legacy of family,
God, and community.”
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