Donald Richard Dexter

Funeral Services for Don Dexter, age 90, of Amelia will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chambers with Rev. Leif Hasskarl officiating. Burial will follow in the Chambers Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. Don passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at his home in Amelia. Memorials may be directed to his family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.
Donald Richard Dexter was born on the family ranch, south of Amelia, on September 25, 1933 to William and Emma (Burrell) Dexter. He was the youngest of seven children. Don attended country school through the 8th grade, then he went to Burwell High School and graduated in 1952.
After graduation, Don worked with his father on the family ranch, raising Hereford cattle, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953. He took basic training in El Paso, Texas. He was then transferred to Fort Bliss, Colorado, and then to Rhode Island. Don's sister Opal was building a motel in Chadron, Nebraska, so Don, his father, and a brother, went out to help her. While in Chadron, Don met Marlene Smith, one of the workers at the motel. They were married on October 5, 1956 in Chadron. Don and Marlene returned to Rhode Island. After two years of service, Don was Honorably Discharged. Don and Marlene returned to the ranch where he worked with his father and two brothers, Raymond and Leonard.
The couple made their home on the family ranch. They lived in an 8' x 12' camper for the first year of marriage and soon after Don built the home that he spent the rest of his life living in. To this union were born three sons, Larry, Ron, and Brad. Over the years Don's ranching went from horse-drawn hay equipment to Farmhand hay stacking and then to balers.
Don was a member of the Swan Lake Country School Board, the Board of Directors of the Sandhill Cattle Association, the St. Paul Lutheran Church Board during the church rebuilding, and the Rural Fire Board.
In his free time, Don enjoyed fishing, traveling, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Don is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marlene Dexter of Amelia; his three sons, Larry (Cheryl) Dexter of Chambers, Ron (Darla) Dexter of Amelia, Brad (Jane) Dexter of Amelia; 11 grandchildren, Stacy (Mike) Drayton, Jeremy (Melyssa) Dexter, Shelby (RaeAnne) Dexter, Brogan Dexter, Brady (Brandi) Dexter, Mikki (Emily) Dexter, McKensie (Lacy) Dexter, Gabe Dexter, Levi (Brooke) Dexter, Tyler (Rylee) Dexter, Paige (Alex) Carlson; 23 great grandchildren; his sister, Opal Kirkpatrick of Grantsville, Utah; sister-in-law, Delores Dexter of Lead, South Dakota; many nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; five siblings, Beulah (Owen) Moses, Raymond (Pearl) Dexter, Hazel Dexter, Leonard (Charlene) Dexter, Roland Dexter; and one brother-in-law, Bob Kirkpatrick.