09/02/2025
Campbells Named Paxton Labor Day Parade Grand Marshals
By Lori Holmstedt
Longtime Paxton residents Dennis and Mickie Campbell were selected to serve as the 2025 Paxton Labor Day Grand Marshals. The Labor Day parade theme this year is “Paxton, Paradise On Earth.”
Dennis Campbell lived in Paxton, Ogallala and Hereford, Colorado as a boy. He attended public school in Ogallala, and at Keystone he attended the Red Rose School. He lived on the Don McGinley and Stafford Ranch as a youth. He is a 1963 graduate of Paxton High School.
Dennis Campbell was Drafted in the US Army in 1965 and received his training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was sent to Vietnam in March of 1966 and returned home in 1967.
From 1969 to 1973 Dennis served as the Paxton Village Marshal. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice at Chadron State College in 1976. He worked for two years as a welder at the Gerald Gentlemen Station and then purchased the Conoco Gas Station from Eugene Stageimer in 1978 and renamed the station, The Paxton Pitstop featuring gas, oil changes and tire repair. They also served lunches, breakfasts and had an ice cream. Campbell operated the Paxton Pitstop for 41 years. Mickie Campbell served as his bookkeeper.
Mickie Campbell was born at Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah, Georgia. Her father, the late Don Perlinger, was stationed there along with her mother, Ann Perlinger. Mickie is a 1973 graduate of Paxton High School. She then earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and Math from Chadron State College in 1976. She returned to college to earn her Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance in 1981. Mickie taught at St. Patrick’s High School in North Platte for two years as a Math teacher before returning to Paxton where she taught Math and was the school’s Guidance Counselor.
The couple have two sons. Denny Campbell, his wife Shannon and their daughter Lila live in Lincoln. Denny works for the State of Nebraska training Probation Officers; Shannon is an RN for a surgical center in Lincoln. Ryley and his wife Britta are living in Columbus, Georgia. Ryley trains Army Soldiers and Britta is a student.
Dennis and Mickie love to travel in their mobile home. They have been to Alaska, Maine, Georgia, Florida and have made several trips to Sturgis, South Dakota. Mickie enjoys crocheting and gardening. Dennis collects Star Wars items and loves to read and learn about military history. The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 26, 2025.
You’ll find Dennis and Mickie riding in the parade this coming Monday at Paxton’s Labor Day celebration. Read more about it on page 10 of this week’s Courier.
THANK YOU LORI HOLMSTEDT FOR WRITING THIS ARTICLE.
