Funeral Services for Marie J. Deans, age 85 of Lemmon, will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon with Pastor Webster Brower and Pastor Florence Hoff, officiating. Marie will be interred along with her husband Harold's cremains at 1:00 pm on Monday, June 28, 2010 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.


A Family Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Special music will be provided by Marilyn Willey.


Serving as casketbearers are Shawn Ericsson, Trampas Deans, Kimberly Erbacher, Tristy Carroll, and Jessica Mathis. All family and friends are considered honorary bearers.


Marie Jeannette Hill was born July 31, 1924 in Chadron, Nebraska to Jeannette & Wesley Hill. Marie was born prematurely and the story was told that she fit in a shoebox and was placed near the wood stove for warmth. She attended rural grade schools until high school, which she attended in Chadron, graduating in 1942. She had her eye on a good-looking neighbor boy by the name of Harold Deans for most of her youth. It wasn't until later in high school that Harold & Marie began dating. Their parents were neighbors south of Chadron on a flat area of land called the "table". Harold & Marie were married on April 3, 1943. Marie worked as a secretary at the courthouse in Chadron for a short time, but her duties as a mother and helpmate to her husband took priority. In spite of their young marriage and the birth of their first son, Dennis, Harold enlisted in the Army in 1945 and was shipped overseas. Marie and Denny went to live with her parents until Harold returned. During the next four years Harold & Marie moved three times seeking better opportunities, and with each move had another son. Marie was asked to make the move again in 1952 when they purchased a ranch near Gopher, located 22 miles northwest of Isabel. They lived there for 12 years, during which time their youngest child and only daughter, Jeannie, was born. There were many good memories created at the Gopher place. During this time Harold's brother Kenney came from Scottsbluff to build them a new house. There were many neighbors then and families would gather frequently at each others homes to play cards and visit, while the kids played together. Many times the trips back and forth were on horseback. There was a school at Gopher and the boys rode a horse to school. It was later, when the boys were high school age and being boarded in Lemmon, that Marie became discontented with the remoteness of the place and wanted to move to a ranch nearer to the high school. In 1964 they moved to a ranch 14 miles east of Lemmon.


Marie was always busy through the years of raising her family as she cooked 3 big meals a day, kept up a big yard, raised a garden, canned, and baked the best pies in the country. Her husband had a sweet tooth, and the cookie jar was never empty. It wasn't unusual to have company drop by at meal times and an extra plate or two would be added to the table as there was always plenty to eat. Harold & Marie enjoyed square dancing and the kids remember tagging along and when you got tired, sleeping on the pile of coats in the corner until it was time to go home. Marie was a dedicated Christian lady and her Bible was well worn. She was a member of the Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday school, served as an elder, and was a member of the Presbyterian women's group. Marie's biggest source of pride was her family. She fiercely protected and served her family which she said was her calling. She fulfilled this role to the end, until her health began to fail and she entered Five Counties Nursing Home in June 2007. During this time, her family could repay her by visiting her frequently and being an advocate for her during this difficult transition. On January 26, 2008 Harold passed from this life after he and Marie shared 64 years of marriage. Marie died peacefully on June 23, 2010 at Five Counties Nursing Home surrounded by her family.


Grateful for having shared her life are her 5 children, Dennis (Jan) of Canyon Country, CA; Bill of Rapid City, SD; Joe (Myrna) of Keldron, SD; Doug of Lemmon, SD; Jeannie (Calvin) Ericsson of Mobridge, SD; grandchildren, Jesse (Dawn) Deans, Kenny (Debbie) Deans, Allen (Donna) Deans, Trampas Deans, Tristy (Jason) Carroll, Kimberly (John) Erbacher, Shawn (Stacia) Ericsson and Jessica (Shawn) Mathis; great grandchildren, Tyler, Lauren, Amy, Cole, Lacy, Logan, Elizabeth, Darynt, Shea, Brooks, Emily, Joshua, Zachary, Benjamin, Ethan, Olivia, Gavin, Haleigh and Aiden; 1 sister, Loretta Buckles, Rapid City, SD.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harold, and 1 brother, Eugene Hill.


In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.


Visitation will be on Friday from 1:00 to 7:00pm, Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and one hour prior to services at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon.