Donald L. Dean, 90

Donald L. Dean was born Feb. 19, 1928, in Valier to Dorwell and Freda Dean. He grew up on a farm north of Valier and attended grade school at Abbott Lake Country School for eight years. He was the only student in his class. He graduated from Valier High School in 1946.

After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in May 1949. He served as a weatherman in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, with a rank of sergeant.

He married the love of his life, Mildred G. Miller, on July 27, 1949, in Great Falls and they had three children, Isola L. Dean, Debra G. Dean, and Wayne D. Dean. Don and Mildred farmed in Valier from 1949 until 1978.

In retirement they moved to Echo Lake near Bigfork and built a cabin on the lake. They lived by the lake until 2002, then bought their home in Bigfork where Don resided until his death on March 10, 2018.

Don loved farming, hunting, fishing, trapping, digging arrowheads, building furniture and wooden toys, and bowling. He was a skilled builder and woodworker and passed those skills on to his children, who have shared that knowledge with several of his grandchildren. He enjoyed collecting hatchets, axes, knives, coins and stamps, remaining active until the time of his death.

Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Mildred; his parents; brothers, Richard, Raymond and Dale Dean; nephews, Richard Dean Jr. and Dana Dean; nieces, Karen Dean and Terrie Sullivan; and great-granddaughter, Kurstin Reeves.

Don is survived by his daughter Isola Dean of Bigfork and her children, Tami (Lorne) Krone, Jamie (Michael) Brownell, Karen (Martin) Murphy and Jodi (Tommy) Seifert; his daughter Debra of Kalispell and her children, Ernest C. (Amanda) Reeves, Michelle Reeves, and James Reeves; his son Wayne (Kathy) Dean and their children Dawn (Chas) Bales, Cody (Natalie) Dean Faltin, Kyle (Maria) Dean, and Clinton (Taylor) Dean; and 21 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Don’s name to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana.

A private family burial is planned for Thursday, March 15, at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.