Donald L. Olinger

Donald L. "Don" Olinger, 83, of Hugoton, passed away on Monday, October 29, 2018 at the Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, Kansas after recently being diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. He was a lifelong Stevens County resident being born on May 21, 1935 to S.L.and Geneva (Coleman) Olinger ten miles west of Hugoton, Kansas. On June 1, 1953 he married Nancy Sue Slemp at Liberal, KS; she preceded him in death in 2016. Don attended grade schools at the Liberty, High Point and Daisy Dale Country Schools and was a graduate of Hugoton High School; class of 1953. During school Don was known as "Duke" or "Donnie" and was very active in the FFA program, played football and ran track his Freshman year where he ran the 1/2 mile at the KU relay. After he and Nancy were married they began farming the family farm four and a half miles west of Hugoton moving to their new home nine miles west of Hugoton in 1983. Don's actual farming career started when he was 10 helping his dad with the farm. The Olinger Family Farm was widely respected by auctioneers and fellow farmers where over the years they grew dryland and irrigated crops including wheat, milo, alfalfa, soybeans, corn, sunflowers, and feed while also raising cattle, hogs, and chickens. He and his wife enjoyed supporting their children & grandchildren in all their activities and was also an avid supporter of Hugoton and Rolla High School sports. Don also loved to play pool and was active on Facebook, where he was able to keep up with his family. Don was a member of the Hugoton Jaycees, Men's Mixed Doubles and Traveling League Bowling Team as a Bowler and a Coach. Don and Nancy were also members of the St. Helen's Catholic Church. Don is survived by a Son- Chad L.Olinger of Emporia, KS; Daughter- Dawnel Newton of Rolla, KS; Three Grandchildren - Shane Olinger & wife Cassi of Emporia, KS, Adam Newton & companion Jessi Peek of Colorado, Starburst Murphy and husband Mark of Wichita, KS; Six Great Grandchildren- Lexi Johnson, Braydon Olinger, Nick Olinger, Cayden Olinger, Liam Murphy and Case Murphy; Two Sisters- Mary Lou Kelso of Amarillo, TX and Barbara Furr of Hugoton, KS; Sister in Law- Judy Cantrell of Moscow, KS. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Son in Law- Jeff Newton, Three Sister in Laws, Four Brother in Laws, One Father in Law and One Mother in Law. There will be no public viewing. A Graveside Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, November 2, 2018, at the Moscow Cemetery in Moscow, Kansas, with Father Francis Khio Nguyen presiding Memorials are suggested to the Donald L. Olinger Memorial Fund in care of Miller Mortuary PO Box 826 Liberal, KS 67905-0826. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Donald L. Olinger please visit our Sympathy Store.