Dean Jorgensen Hadfield

Dean Jorgensen Hadfield passed away Feb. 7, 2016, at his home in Preston, Idaho, after having endured the ill effects of Alzheimer’s disease over the past several months. Heaven has gained a great man.

He was born on March 1, 1928, in Grouse Creek, Utah. He would have turned 88 years old next month. His parents were William and Grace Viola Jorgensen Hadfield. He spent his early years taming the city of Grouse Creek along with his nine brothers and sisters. He was the baby of the family, who lost his dad when he was only 16 months old. He yearned to know his father his entire life; now that dream has come true -- at last! His older brother, Gordon, who had become his father figure, passed in a freak farm accident when Dean was 16 years old. At that same time, all four of his other brothers survived as soldiers in WWII. Together, they will have a glorious reunion.

He graduated from Logan High School in 1946. He then revealed a secret he had been keeping: he had also graduated from seminary, much to the surprise of his astonished mother. He attended USU briefly; he then chose the life experiences gained from travel. He met Arla Nyquist at a dance in Hyrum and later married her on a cold winter night, January 30, 1948. They took up residence in Logan where he started and operated Cache Auto Wrecking for several years. He loved participating in local parades with his business. It became more difficult to continue this line of work due to an elbow injury he sustained in the second grade, which continued to plague him the rest of life. He began selling mobile homes and eventually became the owner/manager of Hadfield’s Trailer Court. In 1972, after spending 24 years in Logan raising seven children, Dean began a successful career as an agent for New York Life Insurance in Twin Falls, ID. He retired December 1, 1993 with 25 years of service.

He was an active member in the LDS church with various roles: served as a Sunday School Counselor, worked in Stake Sunday School, acted as Elder’s Quorum President (multiple times), and had been ordained a seventy. He helped with missionary work, donated equipment and time for welfare farm work, and attended church and temple on a regular basis.

He is survived by his loyal and devoted companion of 68 years, Arla. She cared for and supported him, especially in his later years. He is also survived by all seven children: Victoria Grace Brandt, Manti, Utah; Colin (Tracy) Hadfield, Petersboro, Utah; Toni (Vern) Plott, Kimberly, Idaho;Trace Hadfield, Lisle, Illinois: Shelley (Don) Johnston, Woodland Park, Colorado; Sheila (Sterling) Lundgren, Tinian Island; and Kristi (Ellis) Hawks, Middleton, Idaho. Dean has a sister, Vonda Whitlock, who lives in Logan, and his brother, Max (Marie) Hadfield, resides in River Heights. Dean and Arla have 25 grandchildren, and over 40 great grandchildren.

We will miss his sense of humor, the character that made him Dean, and the laughter that made him so special as a husband, father and grandparent. There was never a dull moment; we will miss his enthusiasm for life. He was always doing, scheming, building, planning and achieving. He was a “Grouse Creek Survivor” and we will always have his memory in our hearts.

Funeral services are at 11:30 on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the Allen-Hall Mortuary on 34 East Center Street, Logan, Utah. Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Hyrum Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be expressed online at www.allenmortuaries.net