Newton Hollis Payne

Newton Hollis Payne, our beloved dad, passed away peacefully at 92 on August 24th, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He missed his dear wife Bonnie and we know she welcomed him Home with open arms.

Newt was born in Quincy Massachusetts on January 12th, 1933 to loving parents Newton and Myrtle Payne. He grew up in the Weymouth area with his two brothers and one sister and joined the US Navy after high school.

After serving in the Navy as a ship’s electrician on the USS Rowe during the Korean conflict, Newt returned to Massachusetts and married his sweetheart Elsie (Bonnie) Saunders. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage. 

He began a career in microfilm sales, repair, and training which ultimately led him throughout New England and then to California, where he was hired by 3M. Moving quickly up the ladder, he was transferred to Minnesota. 

Newt and Bonnie moved their four children halfway across the country to North St. Paul, camping and adventuring along the way. The king of handymen, Newt was always working on projects around the house they would live in for over 50 years.He shared those skills with his kids and grandkids as well as through projects like helping build the foundation of a school in Tanzania and homes with Habitat for Humanity. He was proud that many of his kids and grandkids would carry on his DIY tradition.

Life on a Navy ship and job transfers lit a lifelong passion for travel. Traveling for 3M, for vacations with Bonnie and his children, for visits to family back east, and for volunteer opportunities with St Mark’s church, Newt would explore many countries on 5 continents. Traveling by plane, train, ship, hot air balloon, kayak, Zodiak, dugout, and elephant, Newt and Bonnie weren’t afraid to dive into the culture wherever they were.

Newt also enjoyed sports, especially playing golf with friends and family and watching the MN Twins,Timberwolves, Lynx, and Vikings.

We are so grateful to the wonderful caregivers who helped us keep Dad’s days filled with love and adventure. At 92, he still enjoyed a good joke and time with family and friends and we are so blessed for the extra years with Dad. We are also grateful for the caring staff at Regions hospital.

Newt will be greatly missed by children Shelley (Tim) Snell, Russell (Kim) Payne, Victoria (Tim) Ailport, and Valerie Webber (Mark Sando), grandchildren Russell, Julian, Molly, Miranda, Mitchell, Allison, Samuel, Elijah, his seven great- grandchildren, step-grandchildren Camie, Nikki, Angie, Vicki, and Doug. He will also be dearly missed by brother Robert Payne, sister Anita (Ed) Costello, sister-in-law Carol, brother-in-law Newman, and many loved nieces and nephews. Newt will also be welcomed in heaven by his parents, brother Ronald, sister-in-law Nancy, and nephews Daryl, John, and Mike.

Newt said he considered his long life a gift from God. He will be forever remembered for his strength and integrity, ability to always find a little trouble just for fun, his wink and a smile, and the enduring legacy of love for his family. We will miss him so.

A celebration of Newton’s life will be held at St Mark’s Church in North St Paul on Saturday, September 27th at 11:00 am. A luncheon will follow and we’d love the time to hear and share memories.