Donald E. Horst

Donald Elwood Horst (Don), 79, of Newton, Kansas passed away on Monday, August 18, 2025 at his home while doing something he loved: tending to his grove of walnut trees. Don was born on December 13, 1945 in Springfield, Missouri, to Clarence A. and Ida G. (Eshleman) Horst. He spent his growing up years in Mountain Home, Arkansas; Twin Falls, Idaho; and Hesston, Kansas. Don attended Hesston Academy and was a member of the first class to graduate from Hesston High School in 1964. As a pacifist and conscientious objector, Don performed 1-W alternative military service during the Vietnam War, working as a technician in the operating room and psychiatric ward at Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He later attended Eastern Mennonite College, where he met Rachel E. Brubaker. Don and Rachel connected over a shared dream of mission service and were married on August 9, 1969 at Whitestone Mennonite Church here in Hesston. The couple just celebrated their 56th anniversary. Pursuing Don's inspiration to become a mission pilot, Don and Rachel moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where Don earned his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license at the Spartan School of Aeronautics. In Tulsa, Don also advanced his pilot ratings and rebuilt many antique aircraft. In 1973, they moved to Newton, Kansas, where Don worked at Bede Aircraft and established Horst Aviation Air Charter Service. In 1982, Don and Rachel realized their mission dream by accepting an assignment with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and moved their young family of 5 to Gaborone, Botswana. There, Don served as a bush pilot with Flying Mission. In 1986 the family returned to Hesston. Don continued to provide air charter services through EsperAir based at the Newton City/County Airport. Later, Don was a ground school instructor at Cessna Flight Safety, the chief pilot for The Bradbury Company and restored antique airplanes. In 1991, the family moved to a farm northeast of Newton to raise ostriches. There, Don and Rachel delighted in sharing their farm with their community by hosting events like hay rides, bonfires, wedding receptions, and birthday parties. Don was a longtime member of Hesston Mennonite Church, where he and Rachel were JYF sponsors for 13 years. In retirement Don continued his life of service. He and Rachel completed more than 60 assignments with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) at sites ranging from Puerto Rico to Vermont, Minnesota to Texas, West Virginia to California, American Samoa, Saipan, and many others. Don is survived by his wife, Rachel Horst; daughter, Elizabeth (Martin) Dyrst of Chicago, IL; sons, Andrew Horst of San Francisco, CA, and Nathan (Lara Ressler) Horst of Harrisonburg, VA; grandchildren, Isaiah and Micah (Elizabeth & Martin) Dyrst, and Jal and Ella (Nathan & Lara) Ressler Horst; sister, Ruby (Tom) Sawin of Harrisonburg, VA; brother, Roy Horst of Naples, FL; and sister, Twila (Rick) Van Rossun of Newton, KS as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Delmar Horst. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Hesston Mennonite Church on Saturday, September 13 at 10:30 AM CT. Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) (memo: Don Horst - KS) in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.

Donald E. Horst

December 13, 1945 - August 18, 2025