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Donald “Dean” Fallgatter, 70, passed away on Nov. 8, 2021 at Sanford Hospital, Bismarck. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Steele. Visitation will be held one hour prior at the church. Masks will be available to guests but are not required. A service livestream will be available on the funeral home’s website, listed below.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Steele, with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. A livestream of the prayer service will be available on the funeral home’s website.
Dean was born on June 10, 1951 to Don and Darlene Fallgatter in Steele. He graduated from Steele High School in 1969 and continued to live and work on the farm. He met the love of his life, Kathy Brenden, and they were united in marriage on November 25, 1978. They made their lifelong home together on the Fallgatter family farm. Dean and Kathy have two children, Clint and Kara.
Dean farmed and faithfully milked cows for 40 years. He then worked on the road for 10 years for LE Myers Electrical Co. as a groundman. After retiring in 2008, he devoted much of his time to helping Kathy prepare for her work and travel, making sure everything ran smoothly for her and in their home. He was also instrumental in caring for Kathy’s parents for several years when they moved in. He had a heart to serve and gladly helped others whenever possible.
Dean was an encyclopedia of music trivia who could identify any song title or its artist from 1950 on. He loved long phone calls and visits with his brothers and several close friends. One of his favorite pastimes was getting together monthly with lifelong friends Joe & Bonita Moch, Ross & Julie Haibeck, and Ann & Jerry Kunrath for a game of dominoes or cornhole. Nothing made Dean’s face light up more than spending time with his six grandchildren.
Dean was diagnosed with cancer in December 2015 and was stable without any treatment until 2020. At that time, he underwent chemotherapy and eventually traveled to Mayo Clinic. There, he received a stem cell transplant in February 2021 and was the picture of successful treatment. He got Covid in August and struggled with it until his passing.
Dean was a kind, gentle giant and a friend to all. Truly, to know him was to love him. He was quiet but had a great sense of humor – always with a dry, witty comment at the ready. Sweet and humble, Dean would never have considered the immense impact he made on so many.
Dean is survived by his wife, Kathy; son, Clint (Kara) Fallgatter; daughter, Kara (Ryan) Orcutt; grandchildren, Mason, Bryleigh, Koryn, Evelyn, Alice, and Sylvia; brothers, Dennis (Eileen) Fallgatter and Dwight (Robin) Fallgatter; sisters Donna Darsey, Dianne Moch, Deb Lippert, and Dolly Kuhn; brother-in-law, Eddie Biegler; and special friends Joni & Tracy Magstadt, Barb Conklin, Carla Houghton, Juleen & Gary Johnson, Duane Sakry, and many, many more.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Danette Beigler and Dottie Erwin, and 4 brothers-in-law, Pius Kuhn, Bruce Darsey, Sonny Moch, and Jim Erwin.
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