Orville R. Saxton

Orville R. Saxton passed away at the Good Samaritan Society in Winthrop on Friday, July 13, 2018 at the age of 83.

Service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 20, 2018 at the First Lutheran Church in Winthrop. Visitation will be held at First Lutheran Church from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 19,2018 with a Masonic Rite program at 7:30pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Winthrop Cemetery. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Orville was born on August 14, 1934 to Ray and Lydia (Tosch) Saxton in Renville County, MN. Orville graduated from Winthrop High School in 1953. He then enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Albuquerque, NM. After his service Orville married Betty Johnson on September 20, 1958. Orville and Betty made their home on Betty’s family farm. They were life long farmers and raised 4 children. Orville was active in his community being a member of the Lion’s Club and Sibley County Pork Producers. He was a First Lutheran board member and Winthrop school board member for many years. Orville was an over 50 year member of Sibley Masonic Lodge, a 32nd degreed Mason and a Shriner. Orville married Marian Pfarr on October 21, 2000. Orville and Marian enjoyed traveling together and saw many interesting places.

Orville is survived by Marian; his children, Leann (Mike) Haas, Sharon (Roger) Schiro, Steven, Sharlyn (Charlie) Widmer; his grandchildren: Jenna Sondag, Rachel (Andrew) Eckerman, Catherine Schiro and Alex Widmer, and his great grandchildren: Emma Jo and Lincoln Sondag; his brothers, Glenn and Dale. Preceeding him in death were, Betty, on December 2, 1997; his parents; son-in-law, Robert Horak; sister, Deloris Martin; and brothers, Virgil, Lyle, and Dwain.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to either the Winthrop Cemetery Improvement Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association.