Duane ‘Dewey’ Lexvold, 75, Wabasha

 Duane Henry Owen “Dewey” Lexvold, age 75 of Wabasha, MN, passed from this life peacefully Monday, September 21, 2015 in Port Charlotte, FL under the care of Tidewell Hospice. His son, Jeff, was by his side.
 Duane, the oldest son of George and Evelyn (Scharpen) Lexvold was born November 16, 1939 in Red Wing, MN. He was raised on the family farm, attended country elementary school and graduated from Wanamingo High School in 1957. He was a member of the Aspelund Ever-Readies 4-H Club and was forever proud to be on the Wanamingo Bulldogs sports teams. After high school he was accepted at Luther College but was unable to continue due to family obligations. From 1959-1963 he proudly served in the U.S. Navy, stationed at the Alameda Naval Air Station in California. Duane was united in marriage to June Ann Hill May 26, 1961. Four children were born to this union: Denise Lynn, Dawn Denise, Daniel Duane and Jeffrey Alexander. After his service in the Navy, he worked in the “early days” of computers at General Mills, Inc. in Minneapolis.
 In 1972, the family moved to rural Kenyon, MN where Duane was self-employed with American Breeder’s Service (ABS) for over 20 years. He was a loving, supportive father who could be heard from the stands by his children, yelling and cheering them on in whatever sport they were playing. He enjoyed helping his kids with their 4-H animals and taking them to work some Saturdays to meet his customers. From start to finish, Duane modeled to his kids the feeling of pride from a job well-done. When not at work, he enjoyed the “peace” of washing his vehicles, mowing and landscaping, extended-family gatherings and reunions, who-could-eat-the-most corn on the cob contests at suppertime, tornadoes in the root cellar and family vacations. Duane and June divorced in 1993.
 On October 7, 1995 Dewey and Sandra Graves were married at their home in Wabasha (and a party ensued!). Together they created and successfully ran The Eagles on the River Bed & Breakfast and the Coffee Mill Motel & Suites. They enjoyed following the Minnesota Gopher Men’s Basketball teams during regular and post-season play, listening to Neil Diamond at home or attending his concerts, travels to any place tropical and working with the National Eagle Center. They were members of Faith Lutheran Church in Wabasha and he belonged to the Wabasha American Legion Post #50. Sandy passed away March 8, 2010.
 Duane is survived by his children, Dawn (Diane) Lexvold, Fargo, ND, Daniel (Holly) Lexvold, Kenyon, MN and Jeffrey (Dori) Lexvold, North Port, FL; five grandchildren, Kaitlin Lexvold, Hannah Meador, Patrick Meador, Jacob (Julie) Lexvold and Tyler Lexvold; brothers, Stanley (Galene) Lexvold, Red Wing, MN, Larry (Connie) Lexvold, Rochester, MN; sisters, Sandra (Roy) Fritz, Stewartville, MN, Shirley Hanson, Faribault, MN; Sandy’s son, Andrew Graves, New York, NY; Sandy’s daughter, Steph Graves, Maple Grove, MN and her children, Walker Clark, Quincy Clark, Regan Clark and Jaxon Doszak. Dewey leaves behind his very special friend and companion, Dana Loy, Rochester, MN and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy, parents, George and Evelyn, infant daughter, Denise Lynn, brother-in-law, Harvey Hanson and numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
 A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., at Faith Lutheran Church in Wabasha with the Reverend David Knox officiating. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Wabasha. Military rites will be performed by the Wabasha American Legion Post #50, the Burkhardt-Roemer VFW Post #4086 and the Minnesota Army National Guard Reserve. At Dewey’s request, honorary bearers will be his “beautiful, precious” grandchildren. So they are, with much love. Family and friends may call at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 5-8pm and at the church on Saturday one hour before the service.
 The family would like you to attend the visitation on Friday dressed casually and join them in wearing “Gopher gear”, a Hawaiian shirt or some fun hat so that we can celebrate “Dewey-style!” Requested dress for the memorial service is proper funeral attire. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest a donation to your local food shelf, women’s emergency shelter or homeless shelter. May God bless and keep Duane. The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha is in charge of arrangements. www.abbottfh.com