Donavan Dean

Donavan Dean age 87 of Yankton, SD passed away Thursday, May 28, 2026 at the Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House, Yankton, SD with his family by his side. Memorial services will be 11:00 am, Thursday, June 4, 2026 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with Rev. Jeff Otterman officiating. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery, Scotland, SD at approximately 1:30 pm with Military Graveside Rites by the Paul Groshuesh VFW Post # 2966 and the South Dakota Army National Guard Honor Guard. Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. On line condolences may be sent to: www.okfhc.com.

Donavan was born July 22, 1938 in Scotland, SD to Orin and Lenora (Mutschelknaus) Dean. He had to learn English in order to attend grade school. He graduated from Scotland High School and later attended Southern State Teachers College and joined the South Dakota National Guard in Yankton, SD. Later he enlisted full time in the US Army. He received training in the signal core at Ft. Hamilton New York and then deployed to Germany. While in Germany he met and married Bunhilda Shafferling. To this union a daughter, Cathy, and a son, David was born.

He stared his career working for Cenex Coop where he managed stations in Dante, Presho, Reliance, South Dakota and Bismarck, North Dakota. He later became the territorial representative in Northwest Iowa. His last place of employment was the Soil Conservation District in Lake Andes, SD and then retired to Yankton, SD.

Since retiring, he has spent many days fishing with his friends and brother, Duane. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Yankton, SD.

He is survived by his daughter Cathy Ward of Rochester, MN; son, David Dean of St. Paul, MN; brother, Duane (Deborah) Dean of Scotland, SD and special dear friend, Mary Ann Blachnik of Yankton, SD sharing many days together.