Leo "Dean" Groves

On February 27, 2024 this world lost a good man.
Leo "Dean" Groves passed peacefully in his sleep while taking an afternoon nap. He had issues with his heart for a number of years and, as he might have put it, "the damn thing just wore out."
Dean was born on September 27, 1930 at his family's homestead in Orchard, Colorado to James Theodore "Ted" and Hazel (Barnes) Groves. He was lucky #2 of ten children. Born of the "Dustbowl Era" (and as the oldest son), Dean learned how to take on hard work early in life. There was always a list of chores that needed done "if you wanted to eat."
He attended school in Orchard, graduating from the eighth grade before beginning a long and varied work history. From mechanic to truckdriver railroad construction hand to factory worker, in Dean's younger years he made a living in many different ways. As he grew older, he was commonly known as the Weldon Valley ditch rider; but the one true constant was that he was always just a cowboy at heart. With a pen full of unruly horses on the place, he was happiest breaking them for many of the locals. "He never met a horse he couldn't ride."
Ruby (Brownlee) and Dean met in Orchard shortly after she moved to town. In 1950, they were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Morgan. Early in their marriage, he was called to serve his country and spent ten years in military duty with nearly two of those years in active warfare in Korea. Upon his return, together Ruby and Dean raised their family of four ornery boys to be four ornery men it was inescapable. That ornery gene came straight from their dad. Ruby and Dean shared their lives for over 73 years.
Dean absolutely loved the outdoor country life camping, fishing, hunting, farming, horses, cattle but his heart was always fullest when he was surrounded by family. With 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren, that's a lot of love (and orneriness) to spread around.
Preceding him in death are his parents; his son, Dave; his sister, Thea; his brothers, James "Sonny" and Teddy Ray.
Dean is survived by his beautiful wife, Ruby; brother, Jerry (Sandy) Groves of Orchard; sisters, Wanda (the late Dale) Knapp of Ft. Morgan, Thora "Snooks" (Don) Gardner of Weldona, Ellie Padilla, Sharon Ann (Dude) Reyman, and Susie (Tim) Montel all of Ft. Morgan; his sons, Ron (Debbie) of Parker, Jim of Ft. Morgan, and Doug (Carol) of Brighton; daughter-in-law, Becky Groves-Silz (Martin) of Ft. Morgan; grandchildren, Jeff (Erin) Groves of Castle Pines, Christie (Kurt) Miller of Lone Tree, Jamie (Jarod) Bodine of Ft. Morgan, Angie Hoke of Ft. Morgan, Cassie Groves of Orchard, Elissa Groves of Wiggins, Danielle (Serjio) Aguirre of Ft. Morgan, Brie (Ryan) Grip of Colorado Springs, Caleb (Hallie) Silz of Ft. Morgan, Jodi Warner of Auburn, ME, Sarah (Jeff) Turner of Lochbuie, Shelby Rappenecker of Ft. Morgan, and Katelyn Groves of Thornton and then there's all those wonderful "greats" and "great-greats" and countless nieces and nephews.
He was our rock the rock that was truly the very foundation of our family. To say he will be missed doesn't even begin to cover it.
A celebration of life will be held at the Cowboy Church (the old lodge hall) in Orchard on Monday, March 4th beginning at 3:00 p.m. Dinner will be served. The service will be preceded by a rosary at 1:00 p.m. followed by the viewing at 2:00 p.m. Internment with military honors will be the following morning (Tuesday) at 10:00 a.m. in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Fort Morgan.