Dean M Putrah

Dean M. Putrah, age 74, of rural Good Thunder, died peacefully on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at Sunrise Cottage in Mankato after an extended illness.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato, with Rev. John Petersen officiating. Burial will be in Garden City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at Lake Crystal Mortuary, and continues one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Dean was born March 27, 1936 in rural Good Thunder to Cliff and Ailene (Jay) Putrah. He was a 1954 graduate of Garden City High School. Dean was raised in the rural Good Thunder area. With a love of the land, he farmed his entire life with his dad and later with his son, Jeff, until his retirement in 2004. Although, by the looks of their garden you would never know that he was retired.

Dean was united in marriage to Violet Bergemann on August 10, 1955 in Willow Creek. Violet passed away in 1988. Dean married Carol Phillips on September 8, 1989 in Mankato. He served in the Army National Guard for eight years. Dean was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Lake Crystal American Legion, Garden City Cemetery Board, and the Rapidan Township Board. He enjoyed annual fall deer hunting trips which were always followed by a fun gathering of co-hunters and families. Dean also enjoyed playing cards, keeping his family and friends entertained with his awesome sense of humor and unique personality, spending time at their cabin up North on Lake Kjostad, and in his earlier years playing racquetball and bowling.

A wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Dean will always be remembered for that little twinkle in his eye and his laugh that was uniquely his. When you saw these traits, you knew he was up to no good. Those were some of the many traits that made Dean the character he was and who we loved. His presence will be missed by all who loved him. The family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Sunrise Cottages and also the Hospice staff for their care and compassion to Dean.

Dean is survived by his wife, Carol Putrah; one son, Jeff (Colleen) Putrah; one daughter, Terri (Kevin) Karau; two step-sons, Jerry and Jeff Phillips; two step-daughters, Sharon (Dave) Stokesbary and Wendy Phillips; thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; one brother, Glenn (Betty) Putrah; also extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Violet; infant twin children, Vikki and Perry: his parents, Cliff and Ailene; brother, Jay Putrah and sister-in-law, Corky Putrah.