Don M. Denniston

Don M. Denniston, 93, of Ottawa, Kansas, formerly of Vassar, passed away Monday, September 14, 2020. No services are scheduled per Don’s wishes. Don was born to Arthur Andrew Denniston and Minnie Elsie (Brown) Denniston in Cottage Grove, Oregon on October 13, 1926. When he was still a small child, his family moved to the Ottawa/Centropolis area of Kansas. He married Betty Jean Messenger November 7, 1948, in Garnett, Kansas. They have 4 children, 14 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. Don worked construction, helping build the Hungry Horse Dam in Columbia Falls, Montana in the early 1950’s. In the 1960’s, he worked helping to build Hwy I-35, from Kansas City to Ottawa. The family then moved to the Ottawa area and he worked as a body shop man at Dale’s Body Shop and Crites Body Shop before owning his own body shops, Don’s Body Shop in Ottawa, and Don’s in Lyndon, Kansas. His last job was working for Lamont Hills Golf Course in Vassar. Don’s hobbies were carpentry and woodworking, golfing, picking at his guitar and doodle drawing. Don and Betty lived in Ottawa 34 years, moved to Vassar, Kansas for 24 years and had recently relocated to Ottawa to be closer to family. Don was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Percy Denniston, and Keith Denniston, and sisters, Agatha Bremer, and Joyce Wade. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jean Denniston, brother, Dale Denniston, and 4 children, Charlie O’Roark, Wayne Denniston, Penny Fuller and Tammy Johnson.