November 04, 2020 Dean Weller, 99

Dean Weller, 99
Funeral Services for Dean Weller, 99, who passed away October 30, 2020 will be held Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 11 AM at Cummings Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Friday, November 6, 2020 from 3-7 PM at the funeral home with family greeting friends from 5-7 PM. Interment will be held at Washington Cemetery in Gravity, Iowa. Memorials may be directed towards the family to be established.
William Dean Weller was born on the family farm near Conway, Iowa on February 24, 1921. He was the oldest child of William Wallace Weller and Maude Ellen (Knott) Weller. Dean attended country school at Marshall Number 4, located on the corner of the family farm, through the 8th grade. He graduated from Sharpsburg High School with the class of 1939. Dean lost his father at age 16, at which time he took over the duties of the farm and assisted with raising his two younger siblings, Howard and Mary Ellen. Dean loved the farm and thrived on the hard work required to run a farm.
Dean was united in marriage to Betty Joan Black, April 18, 1943. When they met, Betty was a senior at Lenox High School and working as a waitress at the Main Street Cafe in Lenox. Dean was smitten with her at first sight and thus history began. Their courtship continued while she attended AIB in Des Moines and worked at a munitions factory in Ankeny. They were the first couple to be married in the present Lenox Methodist Church. After they were married the newlywed couple moved in with Dean’s family and later purchased the farm which is now a century farm and has been home to 5 generations of Weller’s. Dean was a loving devoted husband, taking care of Betty in her later years and visiting her everyday during the last few months of her life, which she spent in the Clearfield Nursing Home. Dean lost the love of his life February 1, 2016. They enjoyed 73 years together. To this union, two children were born, Ronald Dean Weller and Karen Beth (Weller) Price.
Farming was Dean’s passion and life. He saw many changes throughout his life. When Betty and Dean started farming, 77 years ago, they farmed with horses and picked corn by hand (side by side.) One of Dean’s favorite memories was picking corn by hand the first year of their marriage. They not only picked about 30 acres of their own corn by hand, but also picked about 30 acres for a neighbor, Clyde Stephens, for hire. Which gave them some much needed income to survive during their first year of marriage. Dean continued to be fully engaged in farming into his 90’s. Dean enjoyed telling of memories of past farming experiences, but also embraced the new and kept up on modern farming and conservation practices and technology. He enjoyed seeing and talking to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren on Facetime and would light up when they would call from far away to talk with grandpa.
Dean enjoyed people! As long as he was able to go, he loved the small town celebrations and getting out to visit with friends. Up until the last few months, he was always ready to go to a parade, a celebration, an implement dealer, the fair or even shopping. The grandkids said, “grandpa didn’t shop for things, he shopped for people.” Thank you to all the friends who took the time to visit when he was out and about and especially to those who took the time out of their busy schedule to stop by and visit.
Being 99 years old Dean is preceded in death by many relatives and friends, which was very difficult for him. Preceding him in death were his wife, of 73 years, Betty Joan (Black) Weller; his son, Ronald Dean Weller; his parents, William Wallace Weller and Maude Ellen (Knott) Weller; his parents-in-law, Edgar Ross Black and Etta Lillian (Recknor) Black; siblings and spouses, Howard and Lavone Weller and Bill and Mary Ellen Lewellen; brother-in-laws, Kenneth, Donald and Raymond Black and sister-in-law Norma Black.
He is survived by his daughter, Karen Price and husband Stanley of rural Bedford; his daughter-in-law Lori Weller of rural Bedford; seven grandchildren Scott Price, Tracy Price, Tabitha Wilson and husband Brooks of Bedford, Chase Weller and wife Jessica and Derek Weller of Sharpsburg, Crystal Leininger and husband Daniel and Dustin Price and wife Kiana of Lehi, Utah; nine great-grandchildren, Callen, Jordan and Brynlee Leininger, Daxton, Treyson, Emerson and Davis Price, Realee, Jemma and Bo Weller, Gracie and Ronnie Wilson; sister-in-laws, Clytha Black and Jennie Black along with many nieces, nephews, family and a host of friends and neighbors.