William Dean

William (Bill) Dean, 84, passed away September 10, 2015 at Sage Grove Assisted Living in Rigby, Idaho. Born February 24, 1931, at his grandmother's home in Pocatello, Idaho, to William John and Hilma (Carlson) Dean, Bill endured a challenging early childhood with an alcoholic father. Later and happier childhood memories included his maternal grandparents' dry farm located up Pocatello Creek where he would play with the animals and summers in Oregon with his aunts where he would pick wild blackberries and play in the woods. These early life experiences would help create the incredible, hard-working person he became. After graduating from Pocatello high school in 1949, Bill joined the Carpenter's union as an apprentice and trained under the best carpenter he ever knew, his step-father Lester. In 1950, he got a wild hair and joined the Navy, became a Sea Bee and graduated first in his class from builder's school. He spent the next four years in San Diego, Yokosuka, Japan, and Guam until his honorable discharge in 1954. Bill continued to work construction and became employed by Phillips Petroleum in 1959, the first of many INL contractors who employed him. He retired from the INL after 36 years in 1995 as an Assistant Traffic Manager where he helped process the paperwork required to move all kinds of shipments on and off the desert. His work and the friendships made brought him a great deal of satisfaction. On July 31, 1955 in Pocatello, he married a girl who had been his high school friend, Bonnie J Cacavas. In early 1956 they settled into their new home in Idaho Falls and shortly after their son Paul was born on September 13, 1956. Then in March of 1968 they adopted a daughter to complete their family. Bill's marriage to Bonnie was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on May 23, 1958 and prospered 44 years until Bonnie's death in 1999. Bill married long-time friend Agnes Hobday on November 27, 2000 and he felt privileged to become part of her large, loving family. Bill and Agnes were divorced in 2011. Bill was a "putterer with purpose." He was always busy doing something in the yard, in the house, in the garage, in the RV, or helping his kids. His many interests included carpentry, yard work, blowing up dynamite at his former mining claims in Montana, cutting the largest tree in the forest for firewood and then creating perfectly split logs and kindling to make his fire, picking anything that he could make something sweet from, cooking, especially sourdough hot cakes, sewing, quilting, camping, dirt bike and RZR riding, playing cards (he could count them and he didn't like losing) and traveling with his friends in the Good Sam Club. The chores of his youth became the joys of his adult life, and it was a life well-lived. He found pleasure in whatever laborious endeavor he was involved, and his family and friends reaped the benefits of his hard work. He was a man of great strength with a kind spirit, sentimental heart, and welcoming smile always present even in his last days as his body and mind were failing. He was loved and will be deeply missed by many. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Helen and his brother-in-law El Dean Milligan. He is survived by his son, Paul of St. Anthony; daughter and son-in-law, Cindi and Craig Winder of Idaho Falls; sister, Dorothy Milligan of Idaho Falls; sister, Linda Scott of Idaho Falls; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Evelyn Nelson of Beaverton, OR; many nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog, Lady. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, 2015, in Rose Hill Cemetery. Enter from 21st Street and drive along the canal to the Southeast corner. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.

Graveside Services will be held

11 a.m. ,Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Rose Hill Cemetery 2355 South Rollandet Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Notes: Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, 2015, in Rose Hill Cemetery. Enter from 21st Street and drive along the canal to the Southeast corner.