Dean Graham

1927 - 2023

Willard Dean Graham, 96, of Moody Creek, passed away October 14, 2023, with family at his side. He was born on January 18, 1927, on a snowy stormy afternoon in Teton City to Harry Vane and Violet Irene Butt Graham. The doctor came from St. Anthony in a sled pulled by a horse. After Dean was born and checked over the doctor hurried back to St. Anthony in the middle of a blizzard.

Dean was an ambitious youngster and started working the family farm at age 6. It was his job to get up early and water and feed the work horses before he went to school. He learned to drive and plow with the team.

He went to school in Teton and Rexburg at Madison High School.

In 1945, he was drafted into the US Army. He then was transferred into the Army Air Force. He was hoping to go to Japan, but after testing well on one of the tests, he was selected with eight other men to work as Weather Observers and was stationed at the Orlando Army Air Base in Florida. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and was honorably discharged in November 1946.

He and Colleen Saurey eloped and were married on May 21, 1948, in Soda Springs, Idaho. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple. They started their married life in Tendoy, Idaho, cattle ranching and farming hay crops. They had four children, Deanne, Tony, Patrice, and J.D. They later moved to Moody Creek where they purchased a farm and farmed with his dad, Harry. Colleen passed away on September 19, 2013, after 65 years of marriage.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was ordained a High Priest in the Teton First Ward. He was assigned to serve in the Idaho Falls Cannery and loved his time serving there.

He loved his horses and won many races with his race horses. He was a member of the UQHRA and AQHA associations and enjoyed the people that he met there.

He is survived by his children, Tony Graham of Idaho Falls, Patrice (Bob) Gerrie of Polson, Montana, J.D. (Jolie) Graham of Moody; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Colleen Saurey Graham; parents, Harry and Violet Graham; daughter, Deanne Barkdull; grandsons, Jerimy Graham Hunter, Jaxon Dean Hunter; siblings, Forest Graham, Alice Harrop, and Jesse Teeples.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 20, at the Teton LDS Chapel with Bishop Cameron Andrews officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Friday from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Teton Newdale Cemetery with military honors by the Air Force Honor Guard and the Madison County Veterans.