Dean Raabe

Dean Raabe, age 70 of Watertown, SD passed away at home with his devoted wife by his side on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
Funeral service will be at 10:30am Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Watertown.
Visitation will be from 4-7pm Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Active pallbearers will be his nephews, Jim Meier, Jason Raabe, Jared Raabe, Josh Turner and Justin Feuerstein and his brother in law, Stan Kannas.
Honorary Pallbearers are his dear friends, Terry Britzman, Lynn Forde, Rod Redlin and the Cashway Lumber Family.
Dean Arnold Raabe was born on July 18, 1953 in Huron, South Dakota to Gordon and Maxine Raabe. He grew up on a farm in Bancroft, SD and attended Bancroft Elementary School. After graduating from DeSmet High School, he completed the Building Trades Program at Lake Area Technical College. He taught building trades at Lake Area for a year and realized he was meant to build with his hands.
Dean will always be remembered for the many things he built. A carpenter by trade, he started Raabe Construction which he owned and operated for 9 years. He built many homes throughout the Watertown area. In 1985, he built his family's forever home north of Watertown by himself.
After spending 9 years as a carpenter, he transitioned to building homes on paper as an estimator and draftsman at Cashway Lumber for 29 years until retirement. He was a respected man in the community and the relationships he built with customers and his Cashway family were very important to him.
On September 14, 1974 Dean married the love of his life, Shelley (Kannas). This September will mark their 50th Wedding Anniversary. With faith as a foundation, together they built a home and raised their 2 children. He was deeply loved by his family and found such joy in his two grandchildren. He always flashed a smile being able to give 4 wheeler rides, watch them reel in a fish on his boat, and making sure the whole family had a generous serving of his homemade ice cream. With his kind and gentle heart he showed actions speak louder than words and taught his children to work hard, be kind and dependable, invest in your community, and always be there to lend a helping hand to your family and a neighbor in need.
Dean was a true avid outdoorsman. Some of his best memories were with friends on fishing and hunting trips. He loved wildlife and built a large pen to raise turkeys and pheasants to release into the wild. The son of a farmer, he took great pride in their large yard and multiple gardens; sharing "his crop" with neighbors and friends.
After fighting numerous health issues over the years, Dean passed away at home on May 29, 2024 with his devoted wife by his side.
Grateful for having shared in Dean's life are his loving wife, Shelley; son, Michael (James Welsh) of Tampa, FL; daughter, Laura (Dave) Babbs of Peoria, IL; grandchildren, Isaac and Hailey Babbs; sister, Linda Meier; brothers, Ken (Robin) Raabe, twin Duane (Julie) Raabe; special in-laws, Dennis and Sandy Thiesse, Brenda Turner, Stan and Susan Kannas and many dear nieces, nephews and cousins.
His presence we'll miss,
His memory we'll treasure,
Loving him always,
Forgetting him never.
He truly built a legacy.
Memorials may be designated to St Martin's Lutheran Church or Watertown Home Builders Association to be used for scholarships for building trades students.
Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel serving the family ~ www.wightandcomes.com