Funeral Service for Dean Lee Hodson, 95, of Ipswich, was 2 p.m., Friday, June 28, 2024, at Schriver Funeral Home, Ipswich. Burial was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Powell, following the funeral service.
Dean was born July 13, 1928, to Walter and Lizzie Hodson at their farmstead established in 1887. In 1917, it was renamed Sunny Creek Farm. He attended country school and graduated from Ipswich High School in 1946. He met Bonnie Jensen and in 1949 they were married. To this union, they had two sons, Clyde and Glen. Dean raised cattle and other livestock, along with his lifelong passion of agricultural farming.
Throughout his lifetime, Dean received many awards and recognition for outstanding accomplishments/ achievements in 4-H, land resource conservation, and agriculture. In 1963, Dean was awarded South Dakota Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year, and thereafter he attended many OYF conventions during his lifetime.
Dean and Bonnie resided in Arizona during the winters for 35 years. They never missed a year! In 1995, Dean decided to retire from farming at the age of 67 years old. They continued to live on the farm and in Arizona until 2021.
During their time in Arizona, Dean loved the game of softball and played it with his friends twice a week, along with hosting events and holidays at their local RV Resort in Green Valley. He also spent his time building custom bicycles for the other tenants in the park. The people even nicknamed him "The Mayor" of the park.
Dean was a helpful and caring man with a motivation to never give up on any task and was willing to go the extra mile when needed. On their anniversary each year, Dean would treat Bonnie with a ride in their 1948 Studebaker Convertible to town for an ice cream cone. He was a faithful and loving man to Bonnie and his boys.
Dean passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at the Bowdle Healthcare Center, Bowdle.
Dean is survived by his spouse Bonnie; his son Glen and Marcia Hodson, grandson Nathan and Justine Hodson with great-grandchildren Lennon and Emmy; granddaughter Heidi and Chris Forred with great-grandchildren Lexi, Brie, Caden; granddaughter Nichole and Weston Quinn with great-grandchildren Dominic, Owen, Zoe; granddaughter Nicole and Rob Balestra with great-grandchildren David, Devin; granddaughter Heather Mcknight with great-grandchildren Tyler, Mason, Bryson; granddaughter Katie Hamill.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother Willis; sister Lyla; oldest son Clyde, daughter-in-law Valerie and grandson Darin.
Schriver Funeral Home of Ipswich was entrusted with the arrangements.
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