Dean E. Ellis, devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed from this life on Saturday, June 23, 2012. He was 82.

He was born on Oct. 25, 1929, in Newton, Iowa, to Carl A. Ellis and Hazel G. McLaughlin. Dean graduated from Newton Senior High School, attended the University of Iowa and graduated from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War aboard the USS Daily. He worked for Control Data Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn., and Storage Technology Corporation, Louisville, Colo., as a logistic manager. He retired after 20 years with Storage Tech.

On June 2, 1957, Dean married the love of his life, Betty O’Malley, in Benson, Minnesota. Dean enjoyed and cherished his family. Having his children, their spouses and grandchildren gathered around was his greatest joy. He enjoyed the annual elk-hunting trip with family and friends, camping and working on his genealogy. Dean and Betty loved traveling together visiting Ireland, New Zealand, Mexico, Europe, Scotland, Australia, Canada and all 50 states.
Dean was an intellectual with a thirst for knowledge of various interests including, history, geography, reading, music, musicals productions, and wood-working. Dean could design, create and fix anything. Betty always said she could count on one hand the number of maintenance calls during 55 years of marriage. Dean was a member of American Legion Post 32 and an Honorary Citizen of Boys Town.