Dean Elwood Evenson, 66, rural Gladstone, passed away peacefully at his home with his dog Spotty by his side on Monday, November 19, 2018 at his home. Dean’s Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m., Tuesday November 27, 2018 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Msgr. Patrick Schumacher as celebrant. Visitation will be Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m. with Deacon Bob Stockert presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Dean was born December 14, 1951 in Plentywood, Montana to Leland and Elizabeth (Lossing) Evenson. He attended school and graduated in 1970 from Plentywood High School. While in school, Dean worked at Ray’s Super Value in the meat department. After high school, he married his soulmate and best friend, Cheryl Thomas, on November 24, 1973 in Plentywood. He pursued meat cutting as a career. While apprenticing as a meat cutter with Buttrey Foods, Cheryl gave birth to a daughter, Arlinda in 1974 and a son, Jamie in 1975. Dean worked his way up with Buttrey’s to become a Meat Dept. Manager and settled in Dickinson. In 1987, Dean made the leap from employee to employer by purchasing his own business, Dean’s Meat Market, which he ran very successfully until “retiring” in 2014. Dean “retired” by working at TMI.
Dean was super active in athletics growing up and continued that by playing baseball, fast and slow pitch softball. Dean continued to play softball well into his late fifties. He played his hardest up until the day he retired. Dean enjoyed horseback riding with friends and family and as a member of Beef Country Riders. He loved to get on his motorcycle and just ride. He and Cheryl would often get on their bikes and head to Medora to enjoy the day. Dean really enjoyed bowling and could always be found at the alley on Thursdays. He never did bowl that 300 game but came pretty close with a 289. He joyfully annoyed his family by watching bowling on TV.
Dean and Cheryl had been married a few days short of 45 years. While not always the most romantic man alive, Dean would often make grand gestures like when he surprised Cheryl by having their wedding vows blessed by Msgr. Schumacher during mass for their 40th anniversary. He loved Cheryl with his whole being and showed this by all the projects he did for and redid for her. It was a running joke with the family.
Dean’s true passion was his grandchildren. He was often building them little projects or teaching them about woodworking. His grandchildren brought about a second childhood for Dean. He never let his age or anything else stop him from having fun in life. He most often was the instigator of Nerf gun wars and water gun fights with his grandchildren. He was always playing with and teasing them just because he could. He absolutely loved his grandpa shirts and wore them with pride.
Dean was a practical joker. Just ask many of the family and friends that were on the receiving end of his jokes.
Dean enjoyed woodworking and was working on updating their house in his spare time. He incorporated so much he learned from TMI. He was quick to offer help and advice to anyone who needed it. Dean was the first to volunteer to help.
Dean was well respected by those who knew him and loved beyond words by his family. He is greatly missed.
Dean is survived by his wife, Cheryl, Gladstone; children, Arlinda (Brad) Holthus, Lapoint, Utah and Jamie (Kandice) Evenson, Gladstone; five grandchildren, Braven, Corban and Dalenn Holthus and Dustin and Elizabeth Evenson; sisters, Lynette (Geoffrey) Byrd, Salt Lake City, Utah and Audrey (Raymond) Wang, Plentywood. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Warner, Fred, Dwayne and Geraldine Ator.
