The Funeral Service for Jeanette Dix, age 83 of Lemmon, will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon. Pastor Webster Brower and Pastor Florence Hoff will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Dorothy Dayton, organist. Jeanette's grandson Kyle Dix will sing, "One Day at a Time."


Serving as casketbearers are her grandchildren, Carla Rownd, Marla Miller, Ryan Johnson, Kendra Risinger, Kyle Dix, David Dix, and Michael Dix; and step-grandchildren, Nick, Alan, David, and Julie Timm. All of Jeanette's friends and family are considered honorary bearers.


Jeanette Margaret Anna Macheel was born October, 17, 1926 at her family home near Lidgerwood, ND to Margaret Thurmer Macheel and Emil W. Macheel. She grew up on the Macheel farm 3 ½ miles southwest of Lidgerwood. She attended rural grade school and then high school in Lidgerwood, graduating in 1944. At an early age Jeanette decided on a career in nursing after her treatment from a caring nurse when she had scarlet fever. She attended nursing school in Fairbault, MN and did her internship in St. Louis, MO. She then returned to Fairbault to work.


While attending the wedding of her brother William, Jeanette met Burkie Dix Jr. who was the brother of the bride. Burkie and Jeanette were responsible that day for making ice cream for the wedding guests. They were lucky the sparks that were flying didn't melt the ice cream. They fell in love and were married June 18, 1948 at Lidgerwood, ND. They began their married life together on the Feyereison place southwest of Keldron that Burkie had purchased prior to their marriage. Through the years their family of 1 daughter and 4 sons joined them there. Jeanette and Burkie and their children lived on the Feyereison place for 10 years and then moved to the Dix homestead where they continued farming and ranching. In 1985, they retired and moved to Lemmon. In March of 2005 Jeanette entered Five Counties Nursing Home and has resided there since. She opened her heart and shared her infectious smile with all those wonderful caregivers at the nursing home who became special in her life.


Jeanette was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on January 16, 2010.


Jeanette was a very special lady to all who knew her. She had the gift of making everyone feel special with the sparkle in her eyes, sense of humor, and generous smile. Jeanette played a vital part in the growth of the farm and ranch and was always there to lend a hand to Burkie. Motherhood soon became her major role, and with 5 children, it kept her very busy. She was active as a 4-H leader when her kids were growing up and with school activities. Jeanette enjoyed crocheting, card playing, sweets, a hot game of Yahtzee, puzzles, gardening, and was a huge Minnesota Twins fan. Jeanette also was amazing to watch as she played along with her favorite game show "Jeopardy". The answers came quick and correct and she always was a contender for the championship. Her Christian faith was very important to her and you would often find her reading and studying her Bible. She was a member of Hope Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday school there. Upon moving to Lemmon she became a member of Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church where she was very active in Presbyterian Woman, served on the Pastor Nominating Committee, served as an elder, and was a deacon.


Those who will always carry Jeanette's love in their hearts are her family: 1 daughter, Sandra Johnson, Fergus Falls, MN; 3 sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Jan Dix, Cheyenne, WY, Roger and Cindy Dix, Keldron, SD, Darryl and Jean Dix, Lemmon, SD; 7 grandchildren, Carla and her husband Scot Rownd, Marla and her husband Julius Miller, Ryan Johnson and his wife Rebecca, Kendra and her husband Dean Risinger, Kyle Dix, David Dix and his wife Belinda, and Michael Dix; 6 great grandchildren, Christopher Kunz, Justin and Nadine Miller, Natasha, Cody and Austin Johnson; 4 step-grandchildren, Nick Timm and his wife Sarah, Alan, David, and Julie Timm; and step-great grandchildren, Payton, Tucker, Paige and Callie. Her surviving in-laws include Violet and Lawrence Jensen, Sioux Falls, SD; and Eileen Smith, Bowman, ND.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Burkie Dix Jr. in 2007, 1 son Russell in 1988; 3 brothers Kermit, Victor, and William Macheel Sr., and 1 sister Hazel Kiebke.


Visitation will be Monday 1:00 to 7:00 pm, Tuesday 9:00 am to 12 noon at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and one hour prior to services at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church.


A memorial has been established.