Orville “Buck” L. Buxton, 89, of St. Paul, died on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Brookfield Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in St. Paul.

Memorial services with military honors by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 were held on Friday, June 28, 2024, at Jacobsen-Greenway- Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul.

Pastor Jim Garfield officiated.

Musical selections included “Blessed Assurance,” “Amazing Grace,” “The Rugged Old Flag,” and “How Great Thou Art.”

Honorary pallbearers included Andrea Casarez, Nunie Casarez, Brandon Casarez, Sophia Casarez, Jackson Casarez, Erin Nye, Travis Nye, Avery Nye, and Taytem Nye.

Inurnment was in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Cairo.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.

Orville was born on July 10, 1934, to Harry and Vida (Holmes) Buxton in Allen. He joined two older brothers, Marcus and Vincent. After his mother Vida’s death (when he was ten years old), he spent much of his time with the Ellis and Isom families. Buck graduated from Allen High School in 1952 and then attended telegraphers’ school in Omaha. He then worked for the CB&Q Railroad until he enlisted in the United States Army, entering on March 3, 1957. He met and then married Dixie Belle (Bussard) Jackson in Lincoln on May 20, 1957. Her son, Michael Jackson, was seven years old at the time. He was deployed to Korea for eighteen months and was honorably discharged on December 18, 1958.

Upon returning to civilian life, Buck had his job waiting for him with the Burlington Northern Railroad for the next forty-two years. The family moved many times throughout his years of railroad service. He retired in 1997. During their married life, Buck went to school and learned to be a square dance caller. He was a caller for three different clubs, all of which were located in Nebraska. They traveled as far as Hawaii to square dance, where Buck was asked to call with Harold Bausch, a renowned caller.

After retirement, Buck and Dixie traveled the western and southern states in their fifth-wheel recreational vehicle, and mostly settled in Texas for the winters. After dealing with some health issues, they made their home in Elba to be closer to their son and his family. They moved to Matelyn Retirement Community in St. Paul in July of 2019.

Buck was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Loup City, First Methodist Church in St. Paul, and the St. Paul American Legion Club.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Dixie, of sixty-seven years; daughter-in-law, Kathleen Jackson of Ravenna; two granddaughters, Andrea (Nunie) Casarez of Katy, Texas and Erin (Travis) Nye of Ravenna; five great-grandchildren, Brandon, Sophia, and Jackson Casarez and Avery and Taytem Nye; and special niece, Peggy (Bruce) Johnson of Dacula, Georgia.

Buck was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and step-son, Michael Jackson.

The Phonograph-Herald | July 3, 2024