Obituary: Dean Aasand

Dean Aasand

Dean Allan Aasand, age 60, of Carrington, N.D. passed away November 2, 2024. He was surrounded by family in prayer at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.

His visitation was held Friday, Nov. 8 from 5-7 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington. His funeral service was held Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, McHenry, N.D. Pastor Russ Christiansen officiated. Recorded music was "How Great Thou Art," "Amazing Grace" and "On Eagles Wings."

A Burial will be at the Bethlehem Cemetery, McHenry, N.D.

Pallbearers were Todd Aasand, Darwin Topp, Greg Edland, Glen Gerszewski, Marty Schmaltz and Lowell Berntson.

Dean was born Feb., 4th, 1964 in Jamestown, N.D. He was the second son and child to Richard and Yvonne Aasand.

Dean grew up in McHenry, N.D. and spent his childhood there attending the McHenry Public School. When the McHenry Public School closed, he attended the GSM School in Glenfield, where he graduated in 1983. During his last year of high school, Dean met the love of his life, Deedra, at a Kensal dance. A couple of years later, Dean attended college at Moorhead Tech, receiving an associate's degree in Architectural Electrical Drafting in 1987.

After college, he started working for HTI in Fargo and later Denver, Colo. He then started an asbestos abatement company in Denver where he worked until 1990. From there, Dean and Deedra moved to Warroad, Minn. where he worked in the Engineering Department at Marvin Windows until 1997. During that time, he became interested in raising emus. After leaving Warroad, Dean and Deedra moved to Carrington, N.D. and started an at-home business with the emus, selling emu oil products. This at-home business allowed him to do what he considered to be his best job: a stay-at-home Dad. He continued to grow his business and created Vitality, Inc. which he ran until he retired in 2019.

During the years raising Kyle and Brittney, Dean loved having all kinds of birds on the farm, including his emus, ostriches, rheas, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas and pheasants. Dean loved to fish and hunt. He taught everyone in his family to shoot bow, and they enjoyed bow hunting in the fall together. Many hours were spent practicing bow in the yard shooting at Bob the deer practice target. Practice arrows could be found many times in the yard while mowing, much to Dean's chagrin.

Dean and his family took a week-long vacation every summer while the kids were growing up. He loved traveling and exploring new places with his family. He had a love of camping from being in the mountains of Colorado and the forest in Minnesota, but camping didn't always work out the way he wanted it to. However, it sure made for some fun times and good memories for all. There was only one criterion for the location of the family vacation, and that was it had to be close enough to drive to. Many states and national parks where explored during those trips, including Medora, the Black Hills, Devils Tower, Yellowstone, Denver, Winnipeg and Wisconsin Dells.

Dean retired in 2019 and spent his retirement doing many things he loved, such as fishing and golfing and being a Grandpa. In 2023, Dean and Deedra bought a lake house up on Devils Lake. From that time on, Dean spent his time renovating and enjoying his time at the lake house.

Dean Aasand is survived by his wife, Deedra Aasand of Carrington, N.D.; his son, Kyle (Regan) Aasand of Halstad, Minn.; his daughter, Brittney (Ceph) Dockter of Streeter, N.D.; and his grandchildren, Tilman, Ruth and Montelius "Monte" Dockter, and soon-to-be Baby Aasand. He is preceded in death by his father, Richard Aasand, mother, Yvonne (Kofoid) Aasand and brother, Steven Aasand.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home, Carrington and New Rockford, N.D.