Don Winter

Donald Arthur Winter was born December 25, 1928, in Huchinson, Kansas and peacefully, with his family by his side, went to his Heavenly Home on July 31, 2021, at the age of 92.   Don was the son of the late Arthur Fred Winter and Esther Hattie (Dobbratz) Winter.  When Don was about a year old, his family moved to a farm in Eva (Four Corners) where he went to the country school of Northfork from the 1st through the 8th grade.  He moved to Guymon in 1945 and graduated from Guymon High School in 1949.  Upon graduating, he was invited to try out for the Oklahoma State University football team, but instead, enlisted in the Army.   He proudly served in Germany in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.  On November 12, 1955, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Rae Dixon in Guymon at the home of Bonnie’s parents, Earl and Rosa Dixon.  Out of this union, Don and Bonnie were blessed with two wonderful sons, Don Ray and Greg Edward. 

Don’s career was in the oil and gas industry.  In 1982, Don and Don Ray started their own family-run business, Winter Mud Company.  Don worked in the oil patch until his retirement in 2009.  In addition to his oil and gas business, he took great pride in farming the land in Plains, KS where his grandfather, Arthur Winter (born in 1872 in Wisconsin) began farming.  Don served as a board member for many years on the Guymon School Board and was also on the Board of Directors at the First National Bank in Guymon.  He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church.  In August of 2017, Don and Bonnie moved to Lubbock to be near Greg and his wife, Callie, and their son, Hudson. 

In addition to his parents, Don was proceeded in death by his brother, Edward Winter, his sister Darlene Mendenhall and brother-in-law, Gaylon Mendenhall.  Left to honor Don and remember his love and affection are his wife, Bonnie Rae, of 65 years, his two sons: Don Ray and wife Melissa, Greg and wife Callie; Grandchildren: McKinlee and husband Adam Leonard; Reed, Drew, and Hudson; Great Grandchildren: Kate and Graham Leonard; and many other extended family and friends. 

Don never met a stranger and was admired and respected by all who knew him.  His kindness and generosity will long be remembered, and his family will do their best to model.  Don always placed his family as the most important thing in his life, and they were the source of his greatest joy. 

Visitation for Don will be held from 5:00 P.M till 6:30 P.M Tuesday August, 3rd, 2021 at Henson~Novak Funeral Home in Guymon , Oklahoma

A memorial service at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church in Guymon, Oklahoma to honor Don’s life will be on Wednesday, August 4th, 2021 at 10:00am.  Burial will follow at Elmhurst Cemetery with Military Honors. 

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Panhandle Area Sheltered Workshop (103 N. May Street, Guymon, OK 73942) or through Henson Novak Funeral Home. 

A very special thanks goes to the staff of The Legacy at South Plains and Bridge Hospice of Lubbock.  Their care and attention have been exceptional. 

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