Memorial Services for Harold Dexter, age 84, of Chambers will be at 10:30 am Friday, September 17, 2021 at the Chambers Community Center with Pastor Linda Lambert officiating. Burial will be in the Chambers Cemetery with Military Rites provided by the US Marine Honor Guard and the Chambers American Legion Post 320. Visitation will be from 5-8 pm Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a 7 pm Prayer Service. Harold passed away on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at Arbor Care Center in O'Neill. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Harold Eugene Dexter was born near Amelia, Nebraska on October 4, 1936 to Arthur and Olive (Rothchild) Dexter. As a child, his family moved to O'Neill and he attended O'Neill Public Schools. Harold was involved in 4-H, showing his own calves from Grandpa and Grandma Dexter's Rainbow Ranch, west of Chambers. In High School, Harold continued to pursue his love of working with livestock and was very active in the FFA. He excelled in Football, Basketball, Baseball, and especially Track and Field, where he held the O'Neill High School record in High Jump for 20 years. He graduated from O'Neill High School in 1954.

As a young adult, Harold enjoyed stock car racing and rodeo, participating in many events such as bronc riding, but particularly bull riding.

After Harold worked a summer on Fox's hay crew, his mother signed him into the U.S. Marine Corps on September 1, 1954. He completed basic training and was deployed to Japan.

Harold married Kathryn Hoffman at the Bethany Presbyterian Church on October 16, 1956. Following the wedding, Harold continued his military career, serving as an enlisted man in the infantry for 7 years, including a combat deployment in Lebanon in 1958. He was accepted to Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia in January 1962 and was commissioned Warrant Officer 1 upon completion of the school in May 1962. Promotions and commissions continued until he reached the rank of Captain. Harold was deployed to Vietnam in 1968 and served until 1969. In Vietnam, Harold earned the Bronze Star with Combat Valor Attachment.

Harold and Kathryn and their growing family moved several times, from coast to coast and even to Hawaii, as the Marine Corps required. Daughter Julie was born in 1958 in Nebraska while Harold was stationed at the Hasting Ammunitions Depot. The next duty station was Camp LeJeune, North Carolina where Carmen was born in 1960, and son Doug joined the family in 1963 while stationed at Treasure Island, California. Other duty stations included Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Norfolk, Virginia. Wherever they went, Harold and Kathryn made a home for the family, but Nebraska was always home in their hearts. Harold retired at the Rank of Major on August 31, 1974 after 20 years of service to our country. The family then moved to Chambers.

Once retired, Harold went to Northeast Community College in Norfolk to learn to be a brick mason. He did well, and when he graduated, the instructor asked if he would want to return the next year to be an assistant instructor. So, for several years, he helped many young men get their start in masonry.

Harold developed a love of horses as a child, and as an adult he started breeding and raising Thoroughbred racehorses and raced them around the Nebraska and Iowa circuits. Harold also enjoyed fishing and hunting. He took an annual elk hunting trip to Colorado with his brother and friends for many years. He attended many Chambers High School games and frequently went to the state track meet. Harold loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Harold is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kathryn Dexter of Chambers; three children, Julie Dexter of Lincoln, Carmen Janecek of Bedford, Texas, and Douglas Dexter (Brenda Spilker) of Davey, Nebraska; six grandchildren, Josh (Jacqui) Donner and children Aedyn, Zoe, and Michael; Adam (Casey) Donner and children River and Charlie, Tyler-Anne Ogg (Hunter Bushong), Lindsey (Mike) Smith and Porter; Lydia Dexter, Ellen Dexter; brother, Darrel Dexter of Chambers; half-brother, Roger Dexter; half-sister, LuAnn (Dexter) Bickford; sister-in-law, Dorothy Dexter of Chambers; brother-in-law, Wayne (Jan) Hoffman of O'Neill; sister-in-law, Carole Harley of Lincoln; and many nieces and nephews.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lawrence Dexter and Jerry Dexter; a great-granddaughter, Margot Grace Bushong; sister-in-law, Sharon Dexter; and brother-in-law, Norman Harley.