Dean Minett

Dean M. Minett died at his home near Ruthton, Minnesota on Monday, July 21, 2014. Dean Morris Minett was the second child of Morris and Olive (Alwin) Minett, born on January 28, 1933. He was born at the farm house with Nurse Stella Dickman and a local doctor assisting Dean’s birth. Dean was baptized and confirmed in the Ruthton Methodist Church at 13 years of age. He attended District #79 throughout grade school and graduated from Ruthton High School in 1951. His other education was gained working on his father’s farm and attending one semester of agriculture classes at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus. During this time, he boarded with his sister, Audrey and her husband Lloyd Reichstadt. Dean’s further education was for two years at the South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota.

The army called Dean into service for several years. He took boot camp at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, After his training, he was sent to Germany for two years and worked on huge battalion tanks, and especially the massive howitzer guns. He enjoyed the camaraderie in Germany and sometimes said “I would not mind going back to Germany, but as a civilian.' It was after returning from Germany that Dean had a car accident leaving him with one broken leg that needed amputation due to a serious infection. He spent one whole year at the Mayo Clinic as doctors tried to save his left leg, but finally went to the VA Hospital for amputation. Since 1955, Dean has lived with an artificial leg.

Dean bought the home farm when his father, Morris, passed away in 1961. He enjoyed the freedom of farming and being his own boss. As the years went by, he would comment about how agriculture and farming was changing; he often would mention the new machinery used in farming and would compare it to what was being used during the Depression of the 1930’s. One of Dean’s hobbies was playing his guitar and singing. Dean applied for a copyright from a Washington D.C. office and received it for one of the songs that he wrote. He loved to sing his songs! He sometimes sang at birthday parties or special holidays. Usually, Dean’s brother, Jerry and sister, Sharon among others, would join in for entertainment. Dean also enjoyed imitating people’s voices and ‘sayings’; he had a lot of fun with it and his audience enjoyed it. Dean liked to travel around the USA. He took a trip to Texas for a month or two to visit his sister Audrey and her husband in Mission, Texas. Dean had many talents, starting in early childhood, building model airplanes and especially wood carvings of WWII airplanes. He ended up with a whole box full which he had all named!

Dean is lovingly remembered by his sister, Audrey (Lloyd) Reichstadt of Flagstaff, Arizona; his brother, Jerry (Karen) Minett of Ruthton, Minnesota; nephews, Joel (Karen) Minett, Jeff (Tracey) Minett, all of Ruthton, Minnesota, Pat (Alice) Heard of Lake Wilson, Minnesota; nieces, Jill (Brock) Thielbar of Luverne, Minnesota and Donna (Joel) Van Damme of Russell, Minnesota; and many cousins, grandnephews, grandnieces and friends. Dean is preceded in death by his grandparents, Harvey and Maggie Minett and Edward and Anna Alwin; his parents, Morris and Olive Minett; his sister, Sharon Heard and his brother-in-law, Merle Heard.