Obituary of Donald Russell Livingston

Donald Russell Livingston (1916 - 2010) Newton Donald (Don) Russell Livingston passed away November 2, 2010, after several years of congestive heart disease. Don was born August 3, 1916, in Monroe, Iowa, the only child of Russell Willett and Jessie Kent Livingston. He attended Monroe Public School. In 1938, he graduated at then Iowa State College with a BS degree in Agriculture, Department of Dairy Industry. Don worked for two and a half years in Kansas City, Missouri as a bacteriologist at Champan Dairy, a Sealtest company. On January 14, 1940, Don and Jean Spencer were married at her farm home near Moville, Iowa. To this marriage a daughter, Mary Catherine, and a son, John Spencer Livingston were born. In January of 1941, Don and Jean moved to his family farm near Monroe, Iowa. Don and his father were good, progressive farmers, with a beautiful herd of Guernsey cows, and excellent sheep and hogs. Corn, oat, soybeans, and alfalfa, and good pastureland made the rest of the enterprise. Don was a lifelong member of the Monroe Methodist Church, where he served in every capacity including being a member of the building committee for the new church after the former church was destroyed by fire, in 1952. He was a Life Member of the Iowa State University Alumni Association, and served his home community well, serving on Senior Housing, Gateway Golf, and Friends of the Library. He also served on the committee to restore and improve the Marion County Courthouse, on the County Extension Council, the Monroe-Otley Cooperative Board and other committees. Don enjoyed his many years with Jean and their family. He enjoyed nature, trees, birds, beautiful fields of farm crops, travel, golf, Cyclone sports, and his many friends. Don is survived by his wife Jean of 70 years, their daughter and son: Mary Livingston Anderson and John Livingston, their daughter-in-law, Jean Ann Holmes Livingston. Don is also survived by his three granddaughters: Sarah Livingston Smith and husband Andrew, Elizabeth Anderson Gross and husband Tony, and Amy Livingston and husband Eli Asarian. There is no funeral services planned at this time. Memorials may be sent to the Jasper County Historical Museum or to The Nature Conservancy.