Dennis Donovan Preston

1944 - 2025

Dennis Donovan Preston

Strafford, VT - Dennis Donovan Preston passed away on January 18, 2025, peacefully at home at the young age of 80 with his wife Beth (Reagan) Preston and a grandson by his side.

Best known as "Dad Preston" or Denny, he was born February 2, 1944, in Hanover, NH to Barbara (Gould) Preston and Donovan D. Preston, both deceased.

Denny went to Strafford Elementary and then to Thetford Academy.

He worked on dairy farms and was the milk man in his younger years. He found his niche in construction. This evolved into his own business Dennis Preston Builders. From the ground up he has touched many homes in the Upper Valley with his true passion being finish carpentry.

Denny met the true love of his life, while working as a custodian/bus driver for the Newton Elementary School in So Strafford VT, Elizabeth "Beth" Preston, who was on the school board. The two blended their families on December 8, 1979, and shared 45 years of happiness and love.

Dad Preston has been a lifelong member of the Justin Morrill Drift Skippers snowmobile club and a member of the Strafford VT Volunteer Fire Department.

He was an avid snowmobiler. When not riding the trails, he helped prepare and maintain them.

He loved to hunt, and every year made the trek to Maine for the week of Thanksgiving to Brokenprest camp which he owned jointly with cousin Punka Brown, the late Larry Kendall, and John Thorpe.

He loved auto racing, spending every Saturday night at Bear Ridge Speedway cheering on his favorite drivers. He spent over 20 years camping with family and friends at the annual NASCAR races at NHMS.

He also loved to watch sports and even made it to Fenway Park and the TD Garden.

He is survived by his wife, Beth Preston, two daughters: April May Preston-Elms and husband Butch Elms of No Haverhill NH, and Ramsey McLaughlin-Papp and husband Mike Papp of Randolph VT. Two sons: Donovan Preston and wife Toshia of Tallahassee FL, and Chris McLaughlin and wife Cheray of South Lake TX. His grandchildren: Haley and Hannah Preston; Connor, Elliot, Philip, and Reagan Papp; and Johnny and Cameron McLaughlin. A brother, LeRoy Preston and wife Jan of Vergennes VT, and two sisters: Marilyn Preston of Burlington VT and Julie Preston-Ballou and husband Willie Ballou of Croydon NH; along with several cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A celebration of life, (he said a party) will be held later this summer at the family farm in So Strafford Vt.

Condolences to Denny's family may be made in an online guest book at www.boardwayandcilley.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Strafford Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 208, So. Strafford, VT 05070 or the Justin Morrill Drift Skippers Snowmobile Club, 93 Birch St, Bradford, VT 05033.

The Boardway and Cilley Funeral Home, Chelsea, VT is in charge of arrangements.