Dean Frank

Memorial services for Dean Frank were held on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Gregory, SD, with Michael Voss officiating. Dawn Davis was in charge of registration. Urn bearers were Heidi Dreeszen, Kurt Frank, and Kory Frank. Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Dean Frank was born on January 22, 1936, in Burke, SD, to Alfred and Frieda (Stahlecker) Frank. Dean and twin Don were the second and third oldest of 11 children.

Dean grew up on the family farm south of Burke. When the twins started school they could only speak German due to the fact that they lived with grandparents who only spoke German, and the school sent them home until they could speak English. Dean graduated from Burke High School in 1956 and went to Yankton to work on the Gavin Point Dam until the danger and risk of getting killed became too much of a risk. He then worked at the ready-mix plant in Yankton, then moved to Dallas to work on the Dallas elevators.

He married Mary Cahil) on May 15, 1956, and to this union, one son, Kelly, was born. Dean worked for Bill Cahill for seven years before buying into the Burke Concrete Plant, and then became sole owner of Burke Concrete Inc. in 1971 until his retirement in 1999. After seeing a log house on a Colorado elk hunt, Dean was very impressed and decided to build one for himself in 1978. He also became a distributor that same year, and with the help of a working crew, built many log homes in South Dakota, Nebraska, and parts of North Dakota. Dean sold that business in 1999. From 1991 to 1995, Dean tried his hand at boat building at Madison, NE, manufacturing a pontoon boat that planed.

Dean had a very imaginative mind and dabbled in many inventions with patents registered in his name for such things as Sputnik Cap, Go Go Garters, Loop the Hoop, inflatable plastic toys, Gum Pot, and lastly, Boat-A-Toon.

Dean enjoyed fishing, hunting, and bowling, with success in all three hobbies. He shared his fishing expertise with his three grandchildren, leaving them with many fond memories and stories to be told.

Dean accepted a home Bible Study from Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1998. In 2005, he made the decision to dedicate his life to Jehovah and become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He enjoyed many privileges serving with the congregation in Gregory.

Dean passed away Friday, June 2, 2023, after several years of failing health at the age of 87.

He is survived by son Kelly (Jeannette) Frank of Burke, SD; grandchildren Heidi (Brent) Dreeszen of Sioux Falls, SD; Kurt (Mandy) Frank of Burke, SD, and Kory (Elizabeth) Frank of Elk Point, SD; siblings: twin Donald (Joyce) Frank of Gregory, SD; Larry Frank of Burke, SD; Karen (Ray) Heiser of Mitchell, SD; JoAnn Berg of Sioux Falls, SD; Linda DeWolf of Burke, SD; and Diane Dacy of Sioux Falls, SD; ten great -grandchildren; special friend-caretaker-companion Diane Davis of Burke, SD; and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Frieda Frank; brothers Delbert, Jimmy, and Bill; sister Beverly; brothers-in-law, Dennis Berg, Emery Bailey, Mike Dacy, and Randy DeWolf.