The Mass of Christian burial for Dean Kok, age 83 of Hettinger, was Saturday, January 15, 2011 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hettinger with Fr. Joseph Chipson and Deacon Joe Mattson, officiating.

Burial will be at 10:00am Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the Bethany Cemetery near Lodgepole.

A Family and Friends Prayer Service was held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Visitation was at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger.

Special music was provided by Gina Joyce, Karen Kobliansky, Rita Steinbach, and Lane and Ann Dingfelder.

Serving as casketbearers are Tim Kok, Tom Kok, Alan Kok, John Busch, Michael Howe, and Michael Hopkins.

Serving as honorary casketbears are Senior Airman Daniel Kok, Dorwin Howe, George Ormiston, Kevin VanSlootan, Charles Mertz, Robert Lewis, Iven Felt and Gary Hendricks.

Dean Robert Kok was born June 16, 1927 in the family home in Wilson Township, Perkins, SD. He was the youngest son of Arthur and Dora (Hendricks) Kok. He attended Swanson School in Wilson Township and graduated from Hettinger High School in 1945 with honors.

Dean always knew he wanted to be a farmer/rancher. His faith in the Lord was evident, and he reminded all to take care of the land as best we could since we were only stewards of the soil, and it does not belong to us. The Lord is letting us care for it only a short time. A quote from Dean " If you do not believe in God, on any day, pause the minute you step outside, gaze around, and you will realize, you did not create all the beauty around you, or the birds singing or the rising sun. And, if you really don't believe in God try ranching and farming, it will make a believer of you in a heartbeat."

On June 10, 1950 Dean married his sweetheart and dancing partner for a lifetime, Vita Deavy. The winter of 1949-1950 was a bearcat, most of you will remember. Dean fastened a 55 gallon barrel on the back of the little Ford tractor, and called all the neighbors who might need groceries and drove to Hettinger to pick up the needed things, but mostly, to take Vita to dinner. He was one "big mud ball" however, he had clean clothes in the barrel as well. Vita knew this was "the man."

Dean was an extremely hard worker. "I'm tired" was not in his vocabulary. He farmed and ranched, loving every moment until 2001, with the onset of declining health.

Dean was a real "Dad" to his sons Marshal and Timothy, teaching them to work hard, to play and gave them lessons by examples, helping others, being respectful, polite and honest. He was kind and generous with family, and when daughters in law came along and then grandbabies, he just loved you all so much and was so proud of all of you. Dean was not able to know the great-grandchildren much to our sorrow.

Dean loved music, dancing, bowling, hunting elk with Marshal, Paulette and Tom, deer with Iven, Tim, Mike and Daniel. These were all wonderful memories for him.

Dean passed away on Monday, January 10, 2011 at Western Horizons in Hettinger.

Surviving family members include his wife, Vita, Hettinger, 1 son and 2 daughters-in-law, Tim and Jeanie Kok, Whitewood, SD; Paulette Kok, Sturgis, SD; 5 grandchildren, Tom (Jonie), Tennille, Mike, Jennifer (John), and Daniel (Kayla); 5 great grandchildren, Anthony, Zabree, Londin, Dawson, Dylan, 2 sisters-in-law, Edith Kok, Hettinger, ND; Isabelle and her husband, Dorwin Howe, Hettinger, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Dora Kok, son, Marshal Kok, and brother, Alfred.

A memorial has been established to the donor's choice.