Donald F. Moon

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Newport — Donald "Don" Fred Moon, 84, of Newport, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Good Samaritan Center in Atkinson.

Visitation was held Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 at Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson with a prayer service.

Visitation was continued Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 at the Presbyterian Church in Atkinson.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 at the church in Atkinson. 

Burial was in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Atkinson with military rites provided by the Atkinson American Legion Post 86.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Donald was born on March 6, 1940, to Fred Dean Moon and Margaret Mae (Johnson) Moon in the hospital in Stuart, which is now the White Horse Museum. He passed away on Oct. 1, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Home in Atkinson at the age of 84. 

Don was raised on the family's farm along with his sister Alda southwest of Stuart. He went to district 58, not far from his home. He quit school during his sophomore year and went to baling hay for Jay Jungman with the help of Russell Carr. He helped build the Methodist Church and helped to build bridges along the railroad tracks.

Don met Dorothy Mae Carr before joining the U.S. Army on Aug. 23, 1961. He was stationed in Berlin, Germany and patrolled the Berlin Wall for several months.

While on leave, Don married Dorothy on Dec. 29, 1962, in Atkinson. They moved to Tacoma, WA and lived in an apartment. After his discharge from the Army on Aug. 22, 1963 the couple moved to Ainsworth and then back to Stuart, living along the highway west of Stuart until they moved out to the family's farm. They lived on the farm where Don was raised for 24 years before moving to Newport in 1993. 

Don lived in Newport for 29 years until he needed more care than what Deanna could do on her days off. He then moved to Prairie Winds Assisted Living in Atkinson on June 27th, 2022. Deanna was still able to care for him along with five other aides and was able to take him for a holiday meal with his family. He didn't like it at first, feeling he didn't need any extra care, saying he could do it himself. But after some tuff love, Don decided that it wasn't a bad place after all. He was happy because he got to see his daughter five days a week instead of two. After he got to know the staff, he figured out how he could get a candy bar and even a Mt. Dew. He would even go out early for his meals just so he could get a halo from Katherine. When it was time for his morning meds, she would take him in two or three halo's which he ate right away. He loved all the attention and talking with Ed and Richard at meal times and all of the holiday celebrations the staff prepared. He even had Wayne hang a couple of plaques up for him along with his deer clock and he wasn't afraid to let him know if they were too high or low.

Don loved haying with his Dad, Deanna and Rodney. He loved to plant a big garden, planting corn and having all his livestock. Every year he would have his brother-in-law Kenny come and help work calves. He enjoyed driving truck in his younger years. After haying was finished, he would take all of the crew to the show in Long Pine or go to Hidden Paradise to play in the creek. Several times they would get to go out to his brothers-in-law Joe and Dorothy's house or to Fred's. He enjoyed his neighbors and was always happy to see Jerry Wallinger when he stopped by to say hello. 

Don enjoyed fishing and fish fries and a few beers with his friends. He also enjoyed hunting, playing cards, pool and ping pong with his kids. He enjoyed Monopoly, as long as he was winning, watching westerns, drawing, woodworking and playing guitar. When his Parkinson's took over, he could no longer paint or play guitar. His shaking had gotten the best of him.

Don is survived by his five children Deanna (Quincy) Dickau of Atkinson, Danny (Tammi) of Randolph, Rodney (Julie) of Yankton, SD, Rebecca (Jerry) Stamp of Inman and Kathi (CJ) Foltz of Norfolk; 14 grandchildren Christopher Salmon and Alisha Salmon, Caleb, Jacob and Preston Dickau, Justin Moon, Brandon, Bridget, Cole and Adam Moon, Lane Ebsen, Justyce, Gage and Dakota Foltz; 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law Dorothy (Johnson) of Fremont and Dorothy (Slaymaker) Carr of Atkinson; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy, two grandsons Schuyler Dickau and Joseph Ulrich and one sister Alda Ellis.             

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