Donald Gene Reber was born April 10, 1926 in rural Harper Co., the only child of Christian & Maude T (Betts) Reber.  He passed away at the Anthony Community Care Center on March 13, 2023, at the age of 96 ……just 4 weeks shy of his 97th birthday.

He grew up on a farm near Crystal Springs and attended rural Hebron grade school, often riding his pony, Billie, to school.  He graduated from Anthony High School with the class of 1944.  After high school he attended Coyne Electronics School in Chicago for radio repair.  He returned to Harper County to farm with his father.

The dark red headed Don met Myrna Dobbins from Wichita on a blind date.  He knew she would be his wife after their 3rd date.  It might have taken her a few more dates to warm up to that idea.  But he won her over with his pretty blue eyes and kind heart.  The young couple wed June 18, 1950 and they shared 72 ½ years of marriage before Myrna's death on January 12, 2023. On his wedding day he said he sang Zip-a-dee-doo-dah and continued to sing it every June 18th to Myrna.

He farmed mostly wheat and raised cattle until his retirement in 2010 at the young age of 84.  He worked for the Field Service Agency (also known as ASCS office) for over 50 years as a field technician measuring wheat ground.  Other part time jobs included driving a school bus, interim janitor at the old Anthony High School, substitute teacher and basketball referee.  He also worked at Safeway in Anthony and was a Bond Bread route salesman in his early years.

His community service ran deep.  He was instrumental in establishing the tractor safety program that was a model for the National Safety Program for 14 & 15 year olds who wanted to work on a farm.  For over 30 years he taught hundreds of young boys & girls tractor safety.  He was very proud that none of his students had a serious tractor accident.  He served USD 361 as a school board member, was a 4H project and community leader and served on the extension council.  He was very active in the Anthony Christian Church where he was a member for over 80 years, serving in just about everything there was to serve on!

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Myrna; son-in-law, Jim Oller; and great-granddaughter Karalyn Smith.  He is survived by his children:  Bob Reber and wife, Lori Ann, of Great Bend, Becky Smith and husband, Don, of Olathe, Debby Oller Rodger and husband, Gary, of Sterling, Jim Reber and wife, Laurie, of Wichita, and Dea Ann Ackermann and husband, Dan, of Cleveland, MO; 11 grandchildren:  Lesley Bruce, Brian Smith and wife, Shannon, Kelley Smith, Kevin Oller and wife, Wendy, Mark Smith and wife, Leslie, Jessica Bradley and husband, Dave, Janea Severns and husband, Greg, Darrin Ackermann and wife, Courtney, Jameson Reber and wife, Christine, Danielle Latchford and husband, Dustin, and adopted granddaughter, Mathilde Godinez; 17 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law: Dave Dobbins and wife, Diana, of Wichita and Tom Dobbins and wife, Shelly, of Lincoln, NE; other relatives; and many friends.

Funeral service 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the Anthony Christian Church.  Burial will follow in Forest Park Cemetery.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Don may be made to Country Living Inc., Anthony Community Care Center, or Anthony Christian Church, and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.