Dwayne Turner

Arthur Dwayne Turner, of Belleville, passed away at the age of 101 at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron, Nebraska, on Friday, May 10, 2024. 

Dwayne was born on April 1, 1923, in a sod house southwest of Hoxie, Kansas. Dwayne enjoyed living in western Kansas, attending a one room country school and later Hoxie High School. His family moved to Concordia, Kansas, when Dwayne was 16 years old.

Growing up in the Great Depression, he helped to support his family by working various jobs for farmers and local businesses. Dwayne decided to return to Hoxie High School to complete his senior year where he worked and lived with Murl and Stella Simon to support himself. 

He left high school during his senior year to enlist in the army to fight in World War II. Due to his vision not meeting military standards, he went to work for Boeing in Wichita, Kansas. He worked for Boeing for three years assembling landing gears for the B-52 Bombers. 

Dwayne moved back to Concordia, Kansas, to be near family and worked at the mercantile store delivering supplies to the local POW camp. During this time he learned to roller skate and purchased a trailer of roller skates, as a side business. He would then travel during his downtime to various area rinks, renting out the skates. 

Dwayne met the love of his life, Marian Lea Evans, while roller skating, and then moved to Belleville in 1951. After working for a time at the Sinclair Service Station as an attendant, he decided to open his own service station. He owned and operated Turner’s Auto Repair in Belleville, Kansas, for several years. In 1974, he took a position at North Central Kansas REA as a mechanic, warehouseman, and meterman. He retired after 17 years in 1991. 

Dwayne and Marian Lea were married on March 11, 1961, and were married for 61 years at the time of Marian’s passing. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to the outskirts of Belleville and purchased their farm, where they remained through death. They enjoyed the farm life together, raising American Quarter Horses for many years, before expanding their operation to raising Angus cattle. 

Dwayne was an avid horseman, competing in the Eastern Kansas Horse Association men’s division for many years. He loved competing and showing his skills in the various events. He was fortunate to win many awards and shared this passion with Marian. 

Dwayne never met a stranger and enjoyed life. His sense of humor was a joy to be around and captured the hearts of many who loved to listen to the stories of a life well lived. 

He is preceded in death by his wife Marian, his parents Mable and Arthur Turner, sisters Ethel Nelson, Fern McDowell, Goldie Waite, Linda Froehlich, and brothers Floyd Turner and Earl Turner. 

Dwayne is survived by many generations of relatives and numerous friends who were considered family. 

Funeral Services will be Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., at the Republic Community Church in Republic, Kansas. Burial will follow at Washington Cemetery, rural Republic.

Visitation will be Wednesday, May 15, from 1pm – 8pm, with the family greeting friends from 6pm – 8pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville. 

Memorials are requested to the Republic Co. Historical Society Museum, and may be sent to Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas, 66935.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home is assisting Dwayne’s family with arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com