To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the South Dakota Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in South Dakota, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 7/26/21 • Approved: 7/27/21 • Last Updated: 7/30/21 • R272458-G272457-S3
Dean Whitcomb
December 11, 1928 - June 10, 2017
Dean Whitcomb, Sioux Falls, SD, died June 10, 2017, in Sioux Falls. He was 88.
Dean Carter Whitcomb was born in Sioux Falls, SD in 1928 to Agnes and Rolland B. Whitcomb. Dean and his sister Dolores were raised primarily in Sioux Falls, with a brief move to California as a young family. Back in Sioux Falls, Dean graduated from Washington Senior High School. Dean’s military service was in the US Air Guard in Glendale, California. Again returning to Sioux Falls, he attended Augustana College where he met and married the love of his life, Donna Lems which marked the beginning of their 63 year love affair.
Dean and Donna married in 1954 and had four amazing, insightful children- now known as the Fabulous Four: Karen, Marianne, Jim, and Ellen. Together, as six, they are The Originals. There are 8 Amazing grandchildren: Aaron, Allison, Sarah, Danny, Leah, Dustin, Alec, and Cole. There are 5.5 Amazing great grandchildren: Noah, McKenna, Berkeley, Alana, Colette, Olivia and, Coming Soon: Daniel Dean!
During Dean and Donna’s early years, Dean worked at Robson Hardware Store becoming a star, award-winning appliance salesman, repair and installation expert. He later worked at Sioux Valley Hospital as an electrician for a full 20 year career until his retirement. Retirement happily included many vacation excursions with Donna as they honeymooned as a retired couple.
Dean had a life-changing faith experience when he was in his mid 40’s that deeply affected him, and became a central focus and consistent theme for him for the rest of his life. He became a learner again, trying to deepen and develop his faith and it influenced all that he aspired to be in life as a worker, a friend, a father, and a husband. Dean and Donna enjoyed many years together in church Bible Study groups and choir.
The friendships and relationships made in their church circles, their work lives, their new senior living environments, and always with their family were sustaining. Conversation was/is key in the Whitcomb family, largely by his example. Dean leaves behind a great many lives touched by his care, his thought, his friendship
Funeral Services will be held 10:00am Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at the Inn on Westport, 4000 S. Westport Avenue. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Section West lawn Plot #19
Contributed on 7/26/21 by 9katz
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 272458