John Dale Baxter

John Dale Baxter was born on October 18, 1925 to John Lambert Baxter and Lula Helm Baxter in small town Wamego, Kansas. He was the middle of three brothers; older brother William (Bill) and younger brother Don. John was drafted into the Navy upon graduation from Wamego High School and in the same month, went to Great Lakes Naval Station for training in the Navy. While in training, he met his future wife, Helen Regina Swensen, a Chicago native. John served for two years in World War II from 1944-1945. After returning from the war, John and Helen were married on September 6, 1947 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL. John was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in 1965 after completing his education at the Lutheran Bible Institute, Augsburg College, and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He served the Lord in parish ministry for over 30 years in various churches in North Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. After retiring from parish ministry he served as a Chaplain in the Good Samaritan Ministries in both Minnesota and Wisconsin for over 10 years. John went to be with the Lord at age 88 years old, and is in Heaven awaiting the eventual arrival of his wife of 66 years, Helen Regina (Swensen) Baxter and their five (5) children; Carole Ann Baxter-Walker (h. Rev. Holt Walker III); Nancy Eline Baxter-Losier (h. Davin/Dave Losier); Russell William Baxter (s. Donna Johnson Baxter); Ellen Renee Baxter; and Jacqueline Kay Baxter. John will be greatly missed, as he was a dearly loved and adored grandpa to 21 grandchildren and great-grandpa to soon-to-be 22 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be sent in lieu of flowers to John Baxter Memorial Scholarships to Summer Bible Camp for families and children of Bethesda Lutheran Church, rural Dresser, Wisconsin (1947 - 110th Ave. S., Dresser, WI 55409); or to The Building Fund at St. Michael's Lutheran Church (9201 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN 55437). Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, August 5th, from 7 pm to 9 pm at Washburn-McReavy Chapel located at 2300 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431 (Phone: 952-884-8145). Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, August 6th, followed by a light luncheon, at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, located at 9201 Normandale Blvd, Bloomington, MN 55437 with interim pastor, Rev. Ron Moritz, presiding. Interment will be at Bethesda Lutheran Church at rural Dresser, Wisconsin with Rev. Harvey Pedersen presiding at the graveside services, followed by a coffee reception in the church fellowship hall. Time of the service will be at approximately 4:00 PM. Color Guard is being arranged for the funeral, by grandson, Chief Petty Officer Joseph Jonathan Losier, who is deployed and serving as a Naval Reservist with the Seabees in Afghanistan. Honor Guard will perform taps and a rifle gun salute at the graveside service as befitting a Veteran of World War II.

Tributes

John Dale Baxter

October 18, 1925 - August 1, 2014

Tributes

John Dale Baxter

October 18, 1925 - August 1, 2014

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