Dean Alexander

Dean Alexander, age 66, died at home on Sunday, November 6, 2022.

The memorial service will be live-streamed and recorded on the Furness Funeral Home Facebook page.

There will be a visitation at the Furness Funeral Home of Clark, South Dakota on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM and one hour prior to his service. A Memorial service will be held at the Garden City Methodist Church in Garden City, South Dakota on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM with burial to follow at the Garden City Cemetery.

If there were ever the words to describe Dean Alexander it would be plain and simple. A man of the land, making his way of living through something he loved to do. Dean LeRoy Alexander started his life on December 13, 1955. He was introduced to his love of farming by his parents Virgil and Fern (Smith) Alexander. Along with his siblings, Dean learned many of life's lessons in the space of a dairy barn.

Once Dean was of age he attended school at Elrod School. Dean attended Clark High School where he participated in FFA, football, and track, never forgetting the life lessons he learned on the farm.

Dean married Mari Jo Hilmoe on June 24, 1977. They proceeded to have four children; Erin, Becky, Jacob, and Laura. They were raised on the beauty of the dirt and the love of the land. As a family they learned of the many joys and the challenges that farming as a family brought.

Dean was a member of the Garden City United Methodist Church, an avid sports lover, especially when it came to his beloved Detroit Lions and the SDSU Jackrabbits. Dean graduated as a Clark Comet but his love also ran deep for the Clark-Willow Lake Cyclones and Chamberlain Cubs.

He always had a love for Oliver tractors since his dad first got a 770 Olvier to use on the farm. One of Dean's proudest moments was when his son Jacob restored Virgil's Oliver in his high school auto class.

His favorite title Dean ever held was the title of Grandpa. The joy he had talking about all of his grandkids was unlike any other. He was always proud of their many accomplishments, never afraid to travel the miles upon miles to attend a sporting event, calf show or rodeo. Dean was always the biggest cheerleader from the stands. His grandchildren Cole, Dusty, Sami,  Austin, Maddie, Ty, Lane, Cali, and Jayce were the center of his entire world.

Dean left this world at the place where he spent most of his life, at his farm. Just as every farmer puts his land to rest as winter approaches, God has put his good farmer Dean to rest.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and parents.

Dean is survived by his wife, Mari Jo Alexander of Clark; children, Erin (Butch) Brenden of Vienna, Becky (Jesse) Rose of Chamberlain, Jacob (Maggie) Alexander of Bismark, ND, and Laura Alexander of Chamberlain; siblings Barbara Valentine of Willow Lake and Roger (Cindy) Alexander of Milbank; mother and father-in-law, Joan and Dick Hilmoe; sister-in-law, Kim (Jeff) Olson of Watertown; brother-in-law, Dean (Rhonda) Hilmoe of Clark; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Furness Funeral Home in Clark, South Dakota where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com