Oliver Russell (Bud) Dean, 79

Oliver Russell (Bud) Dean, 79, passed away on June 26, 2007 at the Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. in the United Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho with internment following in the Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry with Military Rites by the American Legion Post #55.

Oliver was born on April 30, 1928 in Loving Texas to William and Sarah (Hutto) Dean. The family moved to Colorado when he was a young man where he grew up and went to school in and around the Akron, Colo., area.

He joined the Navy at the age of seventeen, and served his term in the South Pacific, and was a participant in the Bikini Atoll atomic Bomb testing and is an Atomic Veteran. He was honorably discharged in December of 1947.

Upon his return to Colorado, he Married Thelma Gebauer on Dec. 25, 1950 at Fort Morgan, Colo. The moved to John Day, Ore., in 1952 where Oliver worked as a timber faller. They remained there until the late 1950's when they moved to Benton City, Wash., and purchased a farm which they operated for about two years. During the next several years they moved to several locations in Oregon and Washington before moving to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1969. Oliver and Thelma built their home north of Bonners Ferry from pealing the logs to the finished work. He continued working as a timber faller until his retirement in 1983. They moved from their home into Bonners Ferry in 2004 where they have resided until Oliver's death.

His life and his hobbies were gold mining and hunting. He fell timber for a living but enjoyed his work as each tree was a challenge.

He leaves his devoted and beloved wife Thelma of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; his loving daughters, Susan of Kootenai, Idaho and Cindy of Libby, Mont.; sister, Morene Parker of Ellensburg, Wash.; brother, Tom Dean of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; sister-in-law Joanne Dean of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials to the United Methodist Church of Bonners Ferry or the charity of your choice.