Jane Carolyn Buxton passed away on August 14, 2025, at the age of 80. She was born on December 22, 1944, in Alden, Iowa, to William and Caroline Dagit, and was raised on a farm in northeast Iowa. After graduating from New Hampton High School in 1962, she continued her education at Rockford College, where she earned her degree in 1966.
Teaching was not just Jane’s profession; it was her calling. After college, she moved to Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1968, she married the love of her life, John Buxton, and together they built a family grounded in love and encouragement. Over the next three decades, Jane worked in education in Rapid City, SD; Gillette, WY; and Spearfish, SD—as both a classroom teacher and a school secretary—but her heart was always in the classroom. She taught in both multi-age and traditional grade-level classrooms, where children’s creativity was encouraged and nurtured. She retired in 2002, leaving behind countless students whose lives were brighter because of her.
Jane’s classroom was a place of creativity and care. From organizing plays and patriotic programs to starting Pet Week so her students could support the local humane society, she found ways to make learning meaningful and fun. Her students remember her patience and her belief in them, and her colleagues remember her warmth and generosity.
Outside the classroom, Jane found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She was happiest at home, surrounded by her family and her dogs. She and John cherished the time they spent with their close group of friends in Surprise, Arizona, over many years. In retirement, she enjoyed planting flowers and discovered a love for pickleball, embracing both the competition and the friendships it brought. More than anything, she loved being with her family and supporting them in every way she could.
Jane is survived by her husband of fifty-seven years, John Robert Buxton; her children, John (Andrea Parker), Jason (Kate Buxton), and Jenifer (Glenn Thompson); her sister, Jeanne Roths (Gary); her brother, James Dagit (Karen); her sister-in-law, Rosemary Rajewich; and her grandchildren, Jace and Dax Thompson. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She will be remembered for her selflessness, her quiet strength, and her unwavering devotion to those she loved.
A funeral service to celebrate Jane’s life will be held at All Angels Episcopal Church on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Her family is deeply grateful for the love and support that has been shown during this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John and Jane Buxton Scholarship at Black Hills State University or the Western Hills Humane Society.