Marles Dean
September 4, 1926 ~ November 3, 2022
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Marles Dean, 96, of Miller passed away, Thursday, November 3, 2022.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church, Miller, Rev. Teresa Whetsel, officiating. Burial will follow at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller. A visitation will be 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to G.A.R. Cemetery, 218 E. 8th St., Miller, SD 57362, or to the Miller Area Foundation, 620 W. 3rd St., Miller, SD 57362.
Marles (Parmely) Dean was born September 4, 1926, to Mabel (Campbell) and Ferrill Parmely in Hand County, SD. She graduated from Miller High School and Aberdeen Teachers College. She began teaching at the age of 16 in one-room country schools in rural Hand County, riding her horse, Thunder, four to five miles each way to teach.
Marles married Roger Dean on January 19, 1951, at her parents' home. They purchased the farm in Spring Lake Township in 1955, where they farmed and ranched for 36 years, and raised their two girls, Sheree and Shelley. Marles and Roger did everything together, working side by side on the farm.
In 1991, Roger and Marles retired and moved into Miller, but the farm was always their home. She made frequent trips to the farm to mow, paint, plant trees, and tend to the garden. She was a 4-H leader, a breast cancer survivor, and a substitute teacher, but her favorite titles were Grandma and Great Grandma. She also loved attending the SD State Fair and her grandchildren’s basketball and volleyball games, golf meets, and rodeos. Marles was a meticulous bookkeeper, enjoyed baking cookies, and sharing her garden produce with family, neighbors, and friends. The book of John was her favorite book of the Bible.
Marles will be greatly missed by her daughters: Sheree (Dale) Christensen, Beresford, SD, and Shelley (Mike) Moncur, Miller, SD; grandchildren: Dean (Michelle) Christensen, Beresford, SD, Kaysee (special friend Jace Fritz) Christensen, Springfield, SD, and Erin Moncur, Miller, SD; great grandson, Maverick Christensen; sister, Beth (Jack) Engel; sister-in-law, Genevieve Parmely; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger; herparents; Uncle Swede; siblings: Wayne (Ellen) Parmely, Viola (Junior) Ford, Mildred (Lowell) Engel, Clark (Ruby) Parmely, Margaret (Richard) Starks, Otis (Natalie) Parmely, James Parmely, and Lenarda (Gene) Swaney; in-laws: Mildred (Henry) Venjohn, Raymond Dean, Leonard (Vera) Dean, Helen (Raymond) Olson, and Darrel (Phyllis) Dean.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Marles' arrangements.
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I am sorry to hear of the loss of Marles. I remember working with Marles at Pierson Greenhouse in Wolsey. We transplanted starter plants. She was a great worker and could do the job so fast. That was a fun short term job and she was fun. Nanette
My sincere sympathy to the family of Marles Dean.🙏🙏
Shelley and Sheree and families, I am so sorry for your loss. I have such wonderful memories of your mom! She always took the time to say hello and visit when I saw her. I will always remember your mom’s warm and easy smile and laughter. Putting you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Sheree,
I was sad to learn of the passing of your dear sweet mother. I do smile that it took 96 years for her job on earth to be done. That is a lot of lessons to teach so many! I know this is a sad time, but rest assured she is rejoicing with her savior and the reunion with family and friends is bringing her great joy! ❤️
We are so sorry for your loss. She sounds like she was an incredible lady.
Deepest condolences to all of the Dean family. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. God Bless!!
My sincere sympathy to the family's of Marles Dean. I have alot of memories of Mrs Dean as she was my 8th grade teacher at Lincoln School in Glendale Township.
Sheree, Shelly and families, I am so very sorry for the loss of your mom Marles. May you find comfort in her passing and in the life you shared with her. Many blessings during your journey. Dawn
Many memories of Marles; great neighbor for much of my life. Such a caring and wonderful soul and what a worker she was! Always tending to something as I walked by her house many times; greeting with a cheerful hello and how are you 🙂 Hold on to all the great memories of such a wonderful life lived! In love and prayer, Jaime Russell and family
Love to Marles. She made the Dean Family notable. God Bless you ALL/