Dean R. Hicken

Dean Ray Hicken passed away May 15, 2016 at the age of 96. Dean has finally sold his last suit, caught that one last fish, and Blue Grouse and Chukars are now safe from his deadly marksmanship with a shotgun. He finished that last round of golf and dug out one more weed in the lawn. Dyer’s Woad will now take over Utah because this noxious weeds worst enemy has passed on to the other side.

Dean was born July 27, 1919 in Heber City, Utah to Elijah Moulton Hicken and Erma Inez Jensen. He was the third of seven children - two brothers and four sisters.

Dean spent very little of his life in Heber except to return as a young man to spend many of his summers with relatives. From Heber City Dean’s family moved to Salt Lake City. Then in 1925 his father Elijah was appointed principal of the LDS seminary in Cowley, Wyoming. Dean’s family then moved again in 1926 to Richmond, Utah where his father was called by the Church to start the seminary program at North Cache.

Dean grew up in Richmond and after graduation from North Cache, attended Utah State University. While in school, Dean was called on a mission to Denmark; however, World War II began and his call was changed to the Northwestern States where he served for two years in Oregon and Washington. After his mission, he was drafted into the military and served with the 5th Army Air Commandos who encountered fierce combat in Japan, Korea and the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in December 1945.

Dean married Marion Carlile in the Salt Lake Temple on May 18, 1942. They spent 62 years together before she passed away on April 28, 2004. Dean and Marion have two sons, Lynn (Ann Marie) and Steven (Linda), six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Throughout his life he worked in men’s retail clothing sales and was a manager for JC Penny and Wickel’s Men’s Store in Logan before opening his own retail men’s clothing store in 1954, the Kater Shop. Kater Shop was Dean’s passion and his pride and joy. Lynn and Steven joined him in this “father and sons” enterprise and continued to run the business after Dean retired in 1980. The Kater Shop
continues on today, some 62 years later, a tribute and legacy to its founder’s motivation and hard work.
Owned now by Mr. Mike Hammond, one of Dean’s former employees and a favorite fishing buddy.

Dean was an avid sportsman. He was an accomplished fisherman, upland bird hunter and golfer. He joined the Logan Golf and Country Club in 1962 and after his retirement from the Kater Shop, he not only continued to play golf at the Club, he went on to work in the pro shop where he maintained the golf cart fleet for some 15 years. Dean loved people and benefited so much because of the association sports provided for him to join together with good friends.

To say Dean was a passionate fisherman and grouse hunter would be a serious understatement!
He could identify every dirt road, spring, river, lake, stream, and canyon and game hot spot in the region. He had many secret fishing spots and has taken their location with him to his death. He spent countless hours fishing, hunting and hiking in the mountains…much to the dismay of his wife Marion, who never had any idea where he was or when he was going to come home.

Dean has lived in River Heights for more than 60 years. As an advocate for his community, he has been recognized as an outstanding citizen on numerous occasions’. His concern and love for his fellow men was second to none. He was the best neighbor you could ever have, constantly doing favors for friends and acquaintances. He brought new meaning to the term “customer service”. He had a longstanding affiliation with the Kiwanis Club, where he received a special award for 20 years of perfect attendance. He has volunteered countless hours for the betterment of others including community, church and family.

Dean was the epitome of a man from the “Greatest Generation”. He was a unique, one of a kind personality and there will never be another Dean R. Hicken. Dean’s immediate and extended family would like to thank him for his amazing example and a lifetime of wonderful stories and memories.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 12:00 noon in the River Heights LDS Chapel, where visitation will be from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Chapel prior to the services. Friends may call from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 20 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary 34 East Center Street in Logan. Interment will be at the Providence-River Heights Cemetery.