Roger Lee Dean, 52, Minot died on Saturday, December 17, 2011 in his home following a courageous battle with cancer.

Roger was born on April 29, 1959 in Jamestown, ND. He felt he was truly blessed to be adopted, along with his brother Dennis, into the loving home of Floyd and Elvera (Quandt) Dean. He was reared and educated in Minot.

Roger married Vicki Severson in 1975 and to this union Preston, Mandy and Jessica were born. They made their home in Minot. He was employed by the Burlington Northern Railroad from 1976-2005. This job made him move around a lot. He met Carol Winkels in 1986 in Cooperstown and they were married on August 29, 1992 in Grand Forks. They blended their families into a local version of the Brady Bunch. Roger retired in 2005 due to a disability. This disability proved to be a blessing in disguise because it allowed him more time to fish, camp, motorcycle, follow the Dallas Cowboys football team and care for his aging parents. Also, he spent this time getting acquainted with the rest of his birth family who sought out Roger and Dennis in 2005.

Roger was a member of the Brotherhood of the Maintenance of the Way and very proud to follow in his father's footsteps as a member of a union. In addition to his favorite hobbies listed earlier he enjoyed collecting music and spending time with his children and grandchildren. If he taught his children anything he taught them to be compassionate and to share his love of music.

Roger's loving family includes his wife of 19 years Carol; children: Preston (Angie) Dean and Jessica (Malik) Dean, all of Minot, Mandy (Randy) Bracken of Devils Lake, Michael (Stacy) Winkels, Josef (Jennifer) Winkels and Nathan Winkels, all of Grand Forks; grandchildren: Ashley Dean; Matthew, Jeremy and Lucas Bracken; Brandon Dean; Braydon Santini; Christian Winkels and Gage Baldock; siblings: Dennis (Mari) Dean of SanTan Valley, AZ, Lynette (Kent) Wood of Minot; birth family: John (Missy) Schrock of Goshen, IN, Anna (Greg) Prawat of Elkhart, IN, Pam (Sam) Todd of Lake Mary, FL and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Elvera Dean, mother-and father-in-law June and Tony Eckert, grandson: Jonathan Bracken and numerous aunts and uncles.

Funeral Service: Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in Zion Lutheran Church Minot.
Interment will be in Rosehill Memorial Park Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home Minot.