Dean Brekke, 57, Minot, formerly of Velva and Sawyer, ND died Thursday, May 3, 2018, in a Minot hospital.

Dean was born December 28, 1960 in Minot, ND to John and Evelyn (Berland) Brekke. He was raised and educated in Velva, graduating with the Velva High School class of 1979. He continued his education at the ND State School of Science in Wahpeton where he earned his welding certificate in 1980. Dean served an apprenticeship in Minot with the Local Pipefitters Union 627, now the Local 300.

Dean's career as a pipefitter led him to various locations throughout the United States and also close to home in local refineries and paper mills. He assisted in the building of Coal Creek and Antelope Valley Refineries and the Dakota Gasification Plant. He retired in 2016 due to health reasons.

Dean was once married to Kristy Sullivan. This union was blessed with a daughter, Morgan.

He was also once married to LaRae Larson Dunwig, and was blessed with a son, Dakota and daughter, Mariah.

Dean loved to have a good time; he had an infectious laugh, a quick, witty sense of humor and could always be counted on to be the life of the party. Dean enjoyed all things recreational- from cars and ATVs to various outdoor and social activities. Dean also enjoyed some pretty competitive softball games with the Velva Merchants back in the day. Dean loved a good concert, some 70's rock, and the Packers. Most recently, he engaged in woodworking as a pastime, flew his remote-control helicopters and tried to embrace (but was frustrated by) technology. Dean often found peace on the lake or in the mountains. Blessed with a big heart, if Dean was your friend, you had a friend for life. He will be missed by all who loved him.

Dean was a member of Oak Valley Lutheran Church of Velva and the Local 300 Pipefitters Union of Minot prior to retirement.

Dean's surviving family includes his children, Morgan (Sean 'Pat' Malone) Brekke-Sisk, Kingman, AZ, Dakota (Brookelynn Larkin) Brekke, Florence, MT and Mariah Brekke, Alexander, ND; grandson, Isaiah Houston; sisters, Joleen (Troy) Thomas, Minot, ND and Kathy (Nick) Schumacher, Kenmare, ND; nieces and nephews, Hadley and Thea Thomas, Kara (Kacy) Keysor and Adam and Ross Schumacher.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents and a niece, Jocelyn Thomas.

Celebration of Dean's Life: 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2018 at Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva, ND

Interment: Velva Community Cemetery, Velva, ND

Visitation: Sunday, May 6, 2018, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Jocelyn Thomas Project or Oak Valley Lutheran Church of Velva.