Douglas "Doug" Dean

Douglas “Doug” Wayne Dean, age 79, of Clarissa, Minnesota, passed away on November 6, 2024, in his home under the care of Knute Nelson Hospice and surrounded by his loving family.

Doug was born on October 18, 1945, in Estherville, Iowa, to David Sr. and Hazel (Fischer) Dean. His family moved to Sioux Valley, Minnesota, where he graduated from high school as part of the class of 1963. He went on to Austin Technical College and obtained a degree in diesel mechanics, graduating in 1965.

After college Doug worked for John Deere, his farming equipment of choice. Doug served in the United States National Guard for a total of six years, from 1967 to 1973. He started farming in 1967 in Sioux Valley and started a farm in Clarissa in 1991. Doug had a special pride in his beef cattle and thoroughly enjoyed the process of growing crops.

Douglas was united in marriage to Mary Steinmetz in June 1965 in Melvin, Iowa. The couple was blessed with a daughter Melissa but later divorced. He met the love of his life, Erlynn Rogers, at a party hosted at her house. They were united in marriage at First Methodist Church on April 13, 1968, and to this union three children were born: Dallas, Darin, and Kristi. The couple made their home in Clarissa, MN in 1992.

Along with farming, Doug enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, and snowmobiling. He was also a fan of the Minnesota Vikings. In high school he played football and showed cattle in 4H. Doug was a family man and enjoyed taking them on vacations.

Doug is survived by his wife of 56 years Erlynn; his children: Melissa “Missy” (Guy) Caslin, Dallas (Sherry) Dean, Darin (Andrea) Dean, and Kristi (Jerry) Anderson; his grandchildren: Brittany Christiansen, Austin Caslin, Devin Dean, Hunter Dean, Cheyenne Dean, Lezah Dean, Rochelle Dean, and Piper Dean; his step-grandchildren: Courtney (Dennis) Bruyere, Megan Wessels, and Jonathan Wessels; great-grandchild Colton Christiansen; step great-grandchild Jameson Bruyere his siblings; Barbara Batke, David (Linda) Dean Jr., JoAnn Meyer, Ellen Bockman, and Danette Wheeler; extended family and a host of friends.

Douglas is preceded in death by his parents David and Hazel (Fischer) Dean; parents-in-law Earl and Eileen “Tiny” Rogers; his brother Daniel Dean; his siblings-in-law: Ken Meyer, Edsel Batke, Jack Bockman, Mark Wheeler, Jolynn (Rod) Leech, and Donald Rogers, his granddaughter Carli Caslin; his grandson-in-law Jon Christiansen; and his niece Abby Dean.

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