Margaret Ann

Saxon

Margaret Ann (Havranek) Saxon, 83, of Ponca, Nebraska, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Sanford-Vermillion Health Center, South Dakota, following a brief illness with pancreatic cancer.

Funeral services will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, with Pastor Larry Wright officiating, where she was member. Visitation, with family present, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, November 12, 2026, with the Funeral Service beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Ponca City Cemetery to follow with continued fellowship and a meal at the church fellowship hall, after graveside prayers.

Margaret was born on May 23, 1943, at the hospital in Lynch, Nebraska, the youngest of five children born to Ruth (Barden) and Lambert Havranek of Spencer, Nebraska. She began her education in Spencer and later attended schools in Newcastle and Ponca. An outstanding student, Margaret was selected to attend Girls State and graduated as salutatorian of the Ponca High School Class of 1961. She treasured the lifelong friendships formed during her school years.

With exceptional mathematical ability and an interest in finance, Margaret began her professional career at Citizens Loan and Thrift Company in Sioux City, Iowa, and lived there early in her career. On September 2, 1962, she married James Saxon at Salem Lutheran in Ponca. They made their home in Ponca, where they welcomed and raised their three children. Margaret continued her career with the Bank of Dixon County in Ponca.

In 1974, the family relocated to Mitchell, South Dakota, as Jim's career opportunities led there. They happily returned to Ponca in 1977 to establish Saxon Dental Studio. Margaret served as the business's bookkeeper and assisted with many aspects of its daily operations, contributing to its success.

Margaret and Jim shared a love of travel and made family vacations a priority throughout their children's growing years. Favorite destinations included California and the national parks of Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. They also made numerous trips to Branson, Missouri, where they enjoyed music shows, boating, and time spent together. The family shared an avid interest in the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Margaret tuned into watch a Husker football game in her final days.

Margaret devoted many years to the Ponca School Alumni Association and reunion activities along with scholarship fund-raising for Ponca High School graduates. Her passion for supporting students and preserving community connections continued well into her later years.

In the late 1990s, Jim's career briefly took the couple to York, Nebraska. Following Jim’s illness, they returned to Ponca, where Margaret joined the staff of the Ponca Public Library. Dedicated to her work and lifelong learning, she took classes at Northeast Community College in Norfolk to develop the skills needed for this role.

Margaret and Jim shared 52 years of marriage before Jim's passing in 2015. In the years that followed, Margaret continued to enjoy occasional travel, dancing, concerts, and spending time with family and dear friends. She was appreciative of the support from the church in her neighborhood, The Evangelical Free Church in Ponca, where she participated in Bible studies and activities.

Margaret took tremendous pride in the accomplishments of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and always found a way to bring them up in conversation.

Margaret is survived by her children, Dr. Lina (Brett) Bostwick of Lincoln, Nebraska; Robin Saxon of Urbandale, Iowa; and Scott (Jann) Saxon of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; grandchildren Bryce (Stacey) Bostwick, and Morgan (Devin) Smith, all of Lincoln; Gabriel Ehredt and Ian Ehredt of Iowa City, Iowa; and Alec Saxon and Aaron Saxon of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; great-grandchildren Barrett, Reese, and Bo Bostwick, and Emberly and Brinley Smith; her sister, Karen Harder of Ponca; sisters- and brothers-in-law Nancy Havranek of Fort Worth, Texas, Robert Saxon of Littleton, Colorado, Janis and William Thompson of Stromsburg, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, her sisters Karol Havranek in infancy, Jeanne Sunday, and her brother, Gary Havranek; her husband’s parents Rachel and Merle Saxon; sisters- and brothers-in-law David Harder, Betty White Whitworth (Boyd White and James Whitworth), and Joanne (Robert) Lowe.

Margaret held a special place in her heart for the Ponca Alumni Association and Scholarship Fund and St. Jude Children's Research Hospitals, which were organizations she faithfully supported.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at June Nylen Cancer Center, Sanford Health Clinic in Ponca, Sanford-Vermillion Medical Center, Sanford-Vermillion Health Center and Hospice for the kindness, comfort, and excellent care they provided. Her children are especially grateful to their Aunt Karen who was a faithful and constant companion during Margaret’s illness.