Nelle Dean

Nelle Clare Guyer was born on February 11, 1918, at the Guyer homestead a daughter of Walter James and Frances Carolyn (Johnson) Guyer. Nelle grew up on the family ranch on Lily Creek, northwest of Ekalaka. She attended the O?Fallon Creek Country School through the eighth grade and one year of high school in Ekalaka. Throughout her school years, Nelle participated in 4-H. Following her freshman year of high school Nelle remained at the family ranch working side by side with her Dad. Nelle loved the wide open country and the ranching way of life. Riding horses and tending to livestock brought great pleasure to her. On June 16, 1937, Nelle married a neighbor boy, Leslie Arnold Dean. Nelle and Leslie were blessed with seven children: Phyllis, Robert, Larry, Jay, Lois, Dale and Barnet. They raised their children on a ranch northwest of Ekalaka raising cattle and sheep for several years. Nelle and Leslie moved to Ekalaka in 1966 so Leslie could drive school bus and the younger kids could attend school. They continued to operate the ranch until 1990 when they sold the ranch. Nelle was active in 4-H in her younger years, and was an expert seamstress. It was her talented ability as a seamstress that won her a trip to the World Fair in Chicago. Besides her love for horse riding and her love of livestock, Nelle enjoyed dancing, square dancing, playing cards and traveling through out the United States. Nelle and Leslie were avid square dancers for 25 years participating in two national square dance conventions and many international dances. At the time of their retirement, Nelle and Leslie were members of the Southeast Montana Fiddlers for over 10 years. Nelle?s great love in life was for her family. They attended all family weddings, graduations etc. Nelle passed away on Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Dahl Memorial HealthCare in Ekalaka, MT. Nelle is survived by her children, Phyllis N. (Nate) Hughes, Buckeye, AZ; Larry E. Dean, Ekalaka, MT; Jay V. (Janice) Dean, Belt, MT; Lois K. (Jim) Johnstone, Ekalaka, MT; Dale M. (Sandee) Dean, Lewistown, MT; Barnet J. (Shelley) Dean, Willard, MT; a daughter-in-law, Shirley Scheetz, Sidney, MT; her brother, Charles (Donna) Guyer, Ekalaka, MT; 27 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Frances, her husband Leslie of 69 years, a son Robert L. Dean, a son-in-law Vernon Jardee and daughter-in-law Beth Dean. She was also preceded in death by her three sisters Ruth Guyer, Shirley Carroll-Columbo and Dorothy Plantenberg. Funeral Service for Nelle Dean, 93, of Ekalaka, MT will be 10:00 a. m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011, in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka, MT with Jesse LaBree and Tom Stieg co-officiating. Interment will follow in Beaver Lodge Cemetery at Ekalaka. Visitation will be 5:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. on Wednesday, May 11th, and one hour prior to the service at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka on May 12th. Family requests Memorials be made to Dahl Memorial Healthcare Nursing Home Activity Fund and Auxiliary.


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Burial Date: May 12, 2011
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral Service: Thursday, Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT