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     Robert “Bob” E. Hixon, 84, of Aberdeen, passed away Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen.

     Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Avenue SE, Aberdeen, with Father Mark Lichter as Celebrant.

     Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

     Visitation will be 5-7:30 p.m., Monday, at the mortuary followed by a liturgical wake service at 7:30 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at church on Tuesday.

     Robert E. Hixon, better known as “Bob”, Dad, and Papa to those who knew him, was born on November 15, 1931, to Harry and Alzada (Bymers) Hixon in Mellette, SD.  He grew up in Mellette, attending a one-room country school for eight years while working on the family farm.
 

    In July of 1949, Bob met Dorothy Coyle in Mellette and they married on August 24, 1950, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen.  They worked the Harry Hixon farm for a short time before moving into Aberdeen.  On March 14, 1951, Bob began working at the K.O. Lee Company in the Shipping Department, where he spent one year before transferring to the Sheet Metal Department.  He spent the next seven years working in both the Sheet Metal Department and the K.O. Ranch.  From 1959 until 1962, Bob became adept at running all the machines on the floor, which led to his move to the Maintenance Department, and eventually Maintenance Supervisor, retiring from K.O. Lee after over 46 years of service.  Bob and Dorothy moved to Mina Lake in 1970.

     Bob, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling and camping.  He especially loved spending time with his wife, kids, and grandchildren, and walking his dogs Shaggy and Champ.  He was a devoted Eucharist Minister for Sacred Heart Church for many years.  As a hobby, Bob enjoyed loading shells, water skiing, assisting and/or coaching his kids and grandkids on home repairs (especially electrical matters), and watching “Hunter”, “Father Dowling” or any police or Western show on TV.  These past few years, one of his favorite days was Wednesday when he would get together with friends he had worked with at K.O. Lee.   

     He will be missed dearly by his children:  Ron (Jackie) Hixon of San Jose, CA, Christie (Paul) Axtman of Kent, WA, Rick (Dorothy) Hixon of Glendale, AZ, and Tim J. (Gayle) Hixon of Aberdeen, SD; six grandchildren:  Misti (Marcus) Padro of CA, Rob (Amber) Axtman of WA, Sarah Hixon and Eric Hixon of AZ, Ryan (Tara) Hixon and Jaymi Hixon of SD; five great-grandchildren:  Neera Padro, Zachary Padro, Samantha Monty and Rylee and Drake Showalter; his brother, Harry (Marion) Hixon of FL, five sisters:  Dorothy Nielson, Pat Dobberpuhl, Bonnie Marlow, Jerrie Row and Vickie Hixon, all of SD; brother-in-law, Bob (Marilyn) Coyle; and three sisters-in-law, Beatrice Hixon, Beverly (G.G.) Geist and Doris Coyle.

     Bob is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Hixon; his parents; daughter-in-law, Jackie Hixon; two grandsons:  Christopher Hixon and Brandon Hixon; three great-grandchildren:  baby Hixon, Everly Rose Hixon, and Gavin Lee Padro; two brothers:  James Hixon and William Hixon; five sisters, Joyce Hixon, Faye Weinries, Ruth Burr, Irene Boylan and Opal Wolff; and many brother in-in-laws.