Dean, 82, died July 17, 2013 in Eureka, Montana. He was born November 7, 1930, in Lynn, MA. He got his first job with the Forest Service at age 17 in Idaho before entering the Air Force in 1951 where he served as a surgery technician stationed in Korea.

After the war he jumped at Missoula in 1957, while earning his bachelor's degree in forestry from the university. His first job with the Forest Service was in Alaska where he moved from junior forester to District Ranger in four years.

Dean's 33-year career with the USFS included his work as ranger on the Tongass N.F. and Kootenai N.F. and as recreation and lands staff officer on the Tongass.