Kirk E. Dean

Kirk E. Dean, 65, Fargo, ND, and formerly of Rapid City and Sioux Falls, SD, passed
away peacefully at his home on May 4, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Kirk Edgar Dean was born in Canton, SD, on August 4, 1947, to E. Merle and Mae
(Sorenson) Dean and was the youngest of their three children. He grew up in Canton, was baptized and confirmed at Canton Lutheran Church, and attended Canton High School, graduating in 1965. Kirk graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN in 1969. His educational path continued to graduations from the National Trust School at Northwestern University, Chicago and the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, Seattle.

On June 21, 1969, Kirk married Stephanie Grove at Canton Lutheran Church. During their 43 years of marriage they raised their three children, cherished ten grandchildren, and traveled the world together. Family was important to Kirk, and he enjoyed his time coaching or being a spectator at his children's events from grade school through the college years and loved watching his children experience the joys of being a parent.

Kirk's banking career with Banco/Norwest/Wells Fargo Banks began in 1969 and
continued over 35 years. When Kirk left Rapid City in 1996, he had been president of the Rapid City banks and Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Wells Fargo Banks of western SD, and during his 2 years in Sioux Falls, Kirk was Exec. Vice President and District Manager of Wells Fargo Banks. From 1998 until his retirement in November 2004, Kirk served as Regional President of Wells Fargo Banks of ND and Northwestern MN.

In addition to his business career, Kirk chose to be active in the community and his church. His volunteer priorities have included serving in leadership positions as
chairman or president of the boards of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce, Mt.
Rushmore National Memorial Society, South Canyon Lutheran Church, YMCA of Rapid City, and the Cass-Clay YMCA Endowment Fund. He was serving as a trustee of Augustana College (Sioux Falls) and also served on the boards of Atonement Lutheran Church, LCMC association of Lutheran churches, Northern Lights Council of Boy Scouts, Better Business Bureau of MN and ND, NDSU School of Business advisory board, South Dakota Banker's Association, Black Hills Corporation (diversified energy company), Rapid City Economic Development Foundation, Black Hills Regional Eye Institute Foundation, and the United Way of Rapid City.

In November 2012, Kirk's story of his cancer diagnosis and then journey at the Roger Maris Cancer Center was told at the Sanford Health's "Waves of Wonder" Inaugural Cancer Gala. On February 23, 2013, Kirk was awarded the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Kirk will be lovingly missed by his wife Stephanie of Fargo; their children Timothy Dean and wife Katherine of Yorktown, VA, Gregory Dean and wife Jami of Fargo, and Sarah Hovda and husband Michael of Sartell, MN; and grandchildren Mackenzie, Morgan, Meredith and Mya Dean, Carson, Paris and Kami Dean, and Max, Jackson and Tess Hovda. He is also survived by his brother Craig Dean and wife Donna Murasky of Washington, DC; sister Jane Sahly and husband Steve of Sioux Falls, SD; brothers-in-law Stephen Grove and wife Marla of Dallas, TX and Marshall Grove and wife Julie of Yakima, WA; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Merle and Mae Dean and Stephanie's parents Max and Ardelle Grove.

Visitation: Saturday, June 1, 2013, from 3:00 - 4:00 PM at Atonement Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND, followed by a Service of Remembrance and Prayer at 4 PM.
Fargo Memorial Service: Sunday, June 2, 2013, at 2:00 PM at Atonement Lutheran
Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church and following the service at the Fargo Country Club.
Rapid City Memorial Service: Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at 11 AM, at South Canyon
Lutheran Church, Rapid City, SD with a Visitation one hour prior to service.
A family inurnment will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton, SD at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the Dean family encourages memorials to Sanford Health
Foundation/Roger Maris Cancer Center, Atonement Lutheran Church, South Canyon Lutheran Church, Augustana College, Northern Lights Council of Boy Scouts, or the YMCA of Fargo or Rapid City.

Kirk's video tribute can be viewed at http://www.philpetersonproductions.com/hr-memorials.htm