Constance Merrilyn (Pangburn) Baxter, 88, of Redfield, SD, passed away Monday, March 20, 2017 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. Her funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday March 25, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Redfield. Reverend Marty Toepke-Floyd will officiate. Burial will follow in the Rockham Cemetery in Rockham, SD.

Visitation will be Friday, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., at the Eastern Star Home Chapel in Redfield. Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home of Redfield has been entrusted with arrangements. (www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com)

Merrilyn was born August 5, 1928 to Dr. Merrill and Constance (Hydem) Pangburn in Scotland, SD. She grew up and graduated from Miller High School in Miller, SD. She lived in Miller until she got married.

On May 31, 1953, she married Merle Baxter in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Jean. They lived on a farm by Rockham, SD. They adopted two children, Mark and Melinda.

During her life, Merrilyn worked for her father in the Hand County Clinic. After she married, she became a farm wife and mother, which were her favorite jobs. She lived on the farm until she moved to Rockham and then to Redfield after the death of Merle.

In her free time, she crocheted, cooked and baked. After Merle's death, her love of her flowers became her passion; especially her daisies, which were Merle's favorite.

She belonged to many organizations during her life: The United Methodist Women, Red Hat, Rockham and Redfield Methodist Church and choir, Redfield Senior Center, OES Chapter and she was a long time member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Her love of music had her in three community theater productions of South Pacific, Oklahoma and Annie Get Your Gun.

She loved her kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. She enjoyed returning to the farm yearly for the bull sale.

Blessed to have shared her life are her children: Mark (Tyann Baloun) Baxter of Rockham, SD and Melinda (Kenny) Neu of Redfield, SD; and her grandchildren: Clarissa Baxter of Webster, SD; Cody Neu of Redfield, SD; Crystal (David) Harford of Tulare, SD; Baylee Blake of Brookings, SD; Stetson Baloun, Justice Baloun and Riggin Baloun, all of Redfield. She is also survived by her great grandchildren: Steven Marlow, Jayden Marlow, Treyton Harford, Hazel Neu, and Ian Neu; her sisters: Jean Goodspeed of Pipestone, MN and Sally (Gary) Kulm of Sioux Falls, SD; her sister-in-law Joyce Pangburn of Corning, IA as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Bob and grandchild Mc Kenzie Marlow.

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SERVICES

Friday, March 24, 2017
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Eastern Star Home Chapel
126 West 12th Ave
Redfield, SD 57469

Friday, March 24, 2017
7:00 PM

Eastern Star Home Chapel
126 West 12th Ave
Redfield, SD 57469

Saturday, March 25, 2017
10:30 AM

Redfield United Methodist Church
1326 W 1st Street
Redfield, SD 57469

Saturday, March 25, 2017
1:00 PM

Rockham Cemetery

Rockham, SD

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