C. Dean Yonts

C. Dean Yonts passed peacefully away on Friday, July 6th 2012 surrounded by family after an extended illness. He was 61 years old. Dean was born on January 11th, 1951 to Harold and Eva Yonts. They were homesteaders in the Whistle Creek area 15 miles southeast of Powell, Wyoming. Dean attended school in Byron, WY and graduated in 1969. He then attended and graduated from Northwest College in Powell in 1971. From there he went to the University of Wyoming where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Agricultural Engineering. On Sept. 7th, 1975, Dean married Kathryn “Kathy” Ann Books in Kemmerer, WY. They moved to Nebraska and have been residing in Scottsbluff ever since. They are parents to two children, Travis and Marissa. Most of Dean’s career has been spent working in irrigation water management as an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, NE. Dean enjoyed his work and especially liked working with producers in the Wyobraska area. Dean was also very involved in many youth activities. He coached soccer, softball and baseball, helped with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and taught Sunday school at the First Presbyterian Church in Scottsbluff. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Eva Yonts. He is survived by his wife Kathy and daughter Marissa, both of Scottsbluff, and his son Travis of Omaha. He is also survived by his brother Robert and wife Barb of Casper, WY, brother Delmer and wife Peggy of Grant-Valkaria, FL, brother Larry of Powell, WY, sister Linda and husband Gary Pangburn of Greybull, WY, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be sadly missed by all. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 12, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church in Scottsbluff, NE with Pastor Ted Thode officiating. A memorial fund has been established to Brent’s Place, an organization that provides patient assistance in Denver, in care of the family or to a charity of your choice.