Dennis N. Highby

Dennis Highby, age 76, of Sidney, NE, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral Services for Dennis will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, March 03, 2026, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney with Pastor Brenda Pfeifly officiating. Burial will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney, NE. A luncheon will follow the burial at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dennis Highby Outdoor Fund at Security First Bank, 1205 Jackson St., Sidney, NE 69162. Funds will be used to support youth mentor hunts and programs, Take a Kid/Veteran Fishing Day events, stocking local ponds, and other outdoor programs close to Dennis’ heart.

Friends may stop at Gehrig-Stitt Funeral Home in Sidney on Monday, March 2^nd from 1-6:00 P.M. with family to receive guests from 4:00–6:00 P.M. Friends and family are invited to Fanny’s Fruit Farm following the visitation for food and fellowship.

You may view Dennis’ Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Dennis’ care and funeral arrangements.

 Born on March 21, 1949, in Tracy, MN, Dennis was the beloved son of Norris and Ardis Highby. He was baptized on April 24, 1949, and confirmed on May 17, 1964. He grew up with a deep sense of integrity, kindness, and a passion for the outdoors that touched everyone he met. It was there that he began his lifelong love of hunting whitetails with a recurve bow.

 Dennis married Linda Bevier on August 22, 1970, and together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and devotion. He was a proud father to Beth (Carter) Kokjer, Matt (Molly) Highby, Amy (Trent) Santero, and Sarah (Kurtis) Kaiser, and a cherished grandfather to Thomas Kokjer, Clara Kokjer, Harrison Kokjer, Elliott Highby, Elsa Highby, Koleman Kaiser, James Kokjer, Keian Kaiser, Grahm Santero, Kale Kaiser, Elinor Kokjer, Ansley Santero, and Hudson Santero.

Dennis began his outdoor career as a decoy painter at Herter’s in Mitchell, South Dakota, then a powerhouse mail-order and retail outdoor business. He worked his way up the ladder, learning copywriting from George Herter’s unique, sometimes over-the-top style, and later becoming a merchandise manager. By 1976, Dick Cabela and Jim Cabela were looking for in management help to build their Sidney, Neb.-based catalog company, then small in comparison to Herter’s. But Herter’s had begun to falter, and Dennis saw the writing on the wall. His résumé landed at Cabela’s at just the right time. The biggest hurdle he faced was convincing Dick and Jim that Herter’s was experiencing financial difficulties and that he had not been sent to Sidney to spy on them. Dennis became Cabela’s 40th employee and its first salaried employee. He eventually took over the president and CEO role from Dick Cabela.

He retired in 2009 and became vice chairman of Cabela’s Board of Directors, a role he held until March 2014. He remained on the board until the company was sold to Bass Pro Shops in 2017. He was instrumental in Cabela’s initial public offering in 2004, when the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange. He often said it was an exciting and sometimes wild ride to watch Cabela’s grow from a small family business into a hugely popular publicly traded company — truly the World’s Foremost Outfitter. Dennis was highly respected throughout the outdoor industry. Many companies credit him with giving them their first order and launching their success. Cabela’s – The First Half Century, a book published in 2011 to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary, includes an account from Gary Loomis describing how Dennis fronted money for equipment, materials, and staff so Loomis could produce fishing rods for Cabela’s — helping launch G. Loomis to success. Similarly, Tim Leatherman said Dennis was the first to recognize the potential of Leatherman tools and placed the company’s first order, allowing production to begin. Always innovative, Dennis held three fishing rod patents.

Dennis believed in the value of early mornings, firm handshakes, and stories told around the breakfast table. Many of his happiest memories were made in a deer stand, catching walleye, or teaching his children and grandchildren how to cast a line, hunt deer, and appreciate the beauty of God’s creation. Always willing to give back, he loved “Take a Veteran” and “Take a Kid” fishing events. Of all the places he hunted, Dennis said Russia was his favorite. After retirement, he spent summers fishing for walleye on Minnesota’s Lake Vermilion, where he made many dear friends. During the fall, he spent countless hours in deer stands or duck blinds, always with friends, family, and his dog, Ruby.

He loved collecting Parker shotguns because his father, Norris, loved them, and Winchester pre-1964 rifles because, as he said, they are classics — built better and always increasing in value. He could always be found at his grandchildren’s sporting events, often wearing his lucky Minnesota Vikings hat, a gift from his good friend and former Vikings coach Bud Grant. He will be remembered for his unwavering love, his warm smile, and his ability to make everyone feel valued. His legacy of compassion and strength will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Dennis was proceeded in death by his parents Norris and Ardis (Hanson) Highby, his father and mother-in-law, Everett and Ruth (Lidtke) Bevier, his sister Mary Lubanovic.