Forrest D. Wixon passed away on December 4th, 2023 at the age of 88 years old in Pierre, SD. Memorial visitation will be on Sunday, December 10th from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. CST, with a prayer service and time of sharing beginning at 6:00pm at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre. A memorial service will be on Monday, December 11th at 11:00 a.m. CST at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m. MST at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. The services will be live streamed at www.isburgfuneralchapels.com
Memorials will be given to the Civil Air Patrol. Memorials and condolences can be mailed to the family at: 4137 Augusta Drive, Rapid City, SD 57703.
He was born on May 8th, 1935 in Tracy, Minnesota to Forrest and Bertha Wixon, the oldest of 7 children. At the young age of 7, he developed a love for flying after watching a WWI aircraft fly over the family farm. His passion for flying continued until he had his first flight lesson in an AT-6 in 1954 as part of the ROTC at South Dakota State University, eventually securing a pilot position in the South Dakota Air National Guard. He received his commission and silver wings in September 1957. That same year, he met a beautiful, young lady by the name of Alice Kepler at a roller-skating rink in Slayton, Minnesota. They both fell in love and were married in September of 1958. Forrest graduated from South Dakota State University in 1964 with a degree in Civil Engineering, taking a job with the South Dakota Department of Transportation as a Civil Engineer. The family moved to Pierre, SD where they raised their five children.
Forrest worked for the South Dakota Department of Transportation for over 30 years as well as 32 years of honorable service with both the South Dakota Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was a dedicated husband and father, always ensuring that his family would be well taken care of and loved. Forrest enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, motorcycle riding, target shooting, and of course flying as he continued to fly until the age of 83. He was inducted into the SD Aviation Hall of Fame and also received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50+ years of safe flying operations. He taught over 130 students how to fly and earn their private pilot license.
After being blessed with a life of love and adventure with Alice, she passed away in 2013 after 55 years of marriage. God evidently decided that Forrest should not be alone, and brought a wonderful woman into his life, Shirleen Fossum. They were married in 2014 and have enjoyed a life of love, travel and adventure together.
He is survived by his wife Shirleen Wixon, five children, Dawn (Ed) Cronin, Denise (Maloy) Loof, Mark (Debra) Wixon, Deborah (Bob) Green, Cynthia (Lance) Frohling; siblings Ronald Wixon, Terry (Randi) Wixon, Diedre (Ron) Garrels, Deanna (Doug) Chapman, Daryl (Mike) Johnson; and grandchildren Patrick (Elizabeth) Cronin, Michael Cronin, Meaghan Cronin, Denai (Joshua) Kjenstad, Danessa Likness, Devin Likness, Moriah Wixon, Levi Wixon, Amanda (Jinhyuk) Choi, Matthew (Dagne) Green, Jared Loecker, and Isabelle Loecker; and great grandchildren Brigid, Lena and Rose Cronin, and Adelaide and Eloise Kjenstad.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Alice Kepler, his brother Carroll Wixon, and sister-in-law Barb Wixon.