Dennis Mason Rivenburg

Dennis Mason Rivenburg passed away on March 30, 2025, at Pioneer Ridge Nursing Home in Lawrence, Kansas at the age of 83.

He was born on September 14, 1941, in Marysville, Kansas to Edwin Ray Rivenburg and Lillian Evelyn (Mason) Rivenburg. Born with cerebral palsy (CP), he never let it keep him from achieving or pursuing his goals. He attended the R. J. Delano School in Kansas City, Missouri through sixth grade. This was decades before the EHA and IDEA laws ordered mainstreaming and accommodations for children with disabilities. He also taught himself how to ride a bicycle despite the limited mobility and spasms caused by his CP.

Dennie was an HO scale model train enthusiast, an excellent chess and checkers player, and loved dogs throughout his life. He was also a proud Kansas farmer. At his parent’s farm in Shawnee, Dennie helped his father tend to a large garden, grow hay and alfalfa, and raise chickens, rabbits, pigs, and cattle. He earned an income by selling livestock and running a small vegetable and egg stand at the farm. He loved his 1952 Ford 8N tractor but was a devout John Deere fan and was usually wearing something with their distinctive colors and logo.

He was also an avid reader and read the daily newspaper front to back, watched CNN with closed captioning, and enjoyed the National Geographic and numerous magazines on farming.

Dennie was preceded in death by his parents, brothers-in-law Larry Masten and Charles Stevens, and nephew Richard Butler. He is survived by his sisters Patricia Rivenburg Masten and Lynda (Harold) Rivenburg Stevens Ditto; his cousins Don (Susan) Wadell, Bill (Gwen) Wadell, Geneva (Jeff) Wadell Stromme, Austin (Emel) Rivenburg, Bob (Ginny) Rivenburg, Bridget Rivenburg Ciliberti, Larry (Sandy) Rivenburg, and Rhonda Rivenburg; his nephews Randy (Kathleen) Masten and Steven (Paula Lawless) Masten; nieces Sonya (Aaron) Masten Herndon and Lori Stevens Nicholas; and numerous other cousins, great nieces, and great nephews.

The family wishes to express their sincere and deep appreciation to the staff of Pioneer Ridge who cared for Dennis since June 2018. Their kindness, love, and compassion made these years enjoyable for him and everyone who visited him.

Dennie called himself a man of God, read the Bible, and regularly attended church services. His final wish was for all of us to pray for peace. He will be laid to rest on April 3 at 11:00 at Oak Hill Cemetery, 1605 Oak Hill Ave, Lawrence, KS 66044.

The family suggests memorial contributions to JustFoodKs.org or the Lawrence Humane Society in lieu of flowers.