Dean Ross Bair
Dean Ross Bair was born August 16, 1915 in Richmond, Cache Co., Utah to Francis Leonard and Laura Ethel (Buxton) Bair.
When he was two years old the family moved to Shelley, Idaho. It was here that Dean learned to work while helping his father on their 60 acre farm. The little two room school he attended was only about 1.5 miles from their home so he either rode his horse or walked with his brothers - down the ditch banks and through the fields - all of them dressed in blue bib overalls. When he was in the sixth grade the family moved to town where his father had gone into a coal and potato business.
Dean graduated from Shelley High School in 1933. He had been a football player with the Shelley Russets. Shelley was the potato capital of Idaho and celebrated each year with their annual Spud Day.
His father passed away in 1931 leaving 16-year-old Dean and his 14-year-old brother, Myron, to run the farm for their mother.
On November 24, 1937 he married his mother's hired girl, Dorothy Anderson, in the LDS temple in Salt Lake City. They have loved each other and cared for each other for nearly 68 years.
In 1942, Dean, Dorothy and their oldest son Ross moved to the Lost River Valley where they were able to purchase a farm for $50 down and $150 a year. Four more little boys were born while living there. Keith, Lyle, Glen and another baby that died at birth. Daughter Arlene, and another son, Jay, were born after the family moved to Washington in February of 1952.
Dean was truly one of the pioneers who accepted the challenge of turning many acres of the sagebrush and cheat grass desert into the beautiful productive place it is today. Dean was the fifth farmer to draw water from the Grand Coulee Dam.
Dean has been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was the first Bishop when the Ephrata Ward was organized in April 1954 and has held many leadership positions. Dean and his wife, Dorothy, served as missionaries in Albuquerque, N.M., and in Missouri. They have also served as workers in the Seattle temple for many years.
Preceding him in death are his parents, an infant son, four brothers, one sister and a beautiful little granddaughter. Left to mourn his passing, and cherish many wonderful memories of him, is his wife, Dorothy; daughter Arlene Johnson, of Dayton; sons: Ross, Keith, Lyle and Glen, all of the Ephrata area and Jay of Duvall, with their spouses Eric, Judy, JoAnn, Dixie, R.C., and Trina. His posterity also consists of 33 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his brother, F.L. Bair and wife Lynn of Moses Lake and his sister, Grace Bowler and husband Wally of Sandy, Utah. Many other relatives and friends will miss this dear man who has contributed so much joy and happiness to their lives.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1301 Division Ave. E., Ephrata. Visitation will be held on Friday at Scharbach's Columbia Funeral Chapel, 300 G Street S.E., Quincy from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the church in Ephrata. Conducting will be Bishop Lowell Allred. Concluding services and interment will follow in the Ephrata City Cemetery.
Scharbach's Columbia Funeral Chapel, (509) 787-2223 in Quincy in charge of arrangements.