 |
He was born on July 12, 1929, to Neil and Elsie Miller in Sioux City, Iowa. He had one sister, Darlene, and a half brother, Charlie O'Conner. Dean stayed in Sioux City until he graduated from High School in 1947.
After graduation, he joined the Marine Corps. He was stationed on the air craft carrier USS Valley Forge as a guard. While the carrier was docked in San Diego, Dean went to a USO dance in Long Beach. There he met Carolyn Chandler. On September 18, 1949, they were married. Dean and Carolyn had four children, Chris, Kirk, Dane and Sheri.
When Dean left the service, they moved to Denver. In 1951, he went to work for the J.C. Penney Company. He worked for them in many locations for 38 years until his retirement in 1989. Dean transferred to Bonners Ferry in 1985, where he remained after he retired.
Dean remained active after his retirement. He worked with the Chamber of Commerce and was on the hospital board for Boundary Community Hospital. He also volunteered in the nursing home, where he conducted sing alongs for the residents.
Dean enjoyed gardening, wood carving and listening to music. He was also an active member of St. John Lutheran Church in Libby, Montana.
In 2004, Carolyn was diagnosed with cancer. Dean and Carolyn became close friends with Marvin and Ruth Norris. Marvin was also fighting cancer. They supported each other through the trials of that disease. In June of 2006, Carolyn lost her fight with cancer. Marvin lost his fight with cancer in 2007.
Dean and Ruth, as friends, supported each other through their grief. They were married on July 10, 2008. With the union, two step children and one grandchild were added to his family. They lived in both Bonners Ferry and Libby until 2012, when they sold the house in Bonners Ferry and lived full time Libby.
Dean is survived by his wife, Ruth, his sister Darlene Foster, and his children and step children, Chris (Janet), Kirk (Claudia), Dane (Arlene), Sheri Spuhler, Mike Norris, and Pamela Paul (Rick). He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Dean will be greatly missed by his family and friends and his church.
Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.