Dean Charles Barnum

Dean Charles Barnum, born 24 Sept 1941 in Austin, MN, passed away at Mission Hospital on 21 Oct 2023.  He is the son of the late Charles and Irene Holst Barnum.

He grew up on the family farm, attending high school in Austin and graduating with Salutatorian honors.  He then went to SDSM&T in Rapid City, SD with a degree in geological engineering with High Honors.  He met his wife of 59 years, Dorothy (Dot) Jeter Barnum, in a zoology lab class at Florida State University before graduating with an MS degree in geology.

After graduation, Dean joined the Chevron Oil Company in Lafayette, LA where he "sat" wells in the Gulf of Mexico to read cores as part of exploration and development.  With a desire to obtain his doctorate, he returned to SDSM&T in 1971 and completed the degree in 1973 with Distinction.  He then returned to New Orleans, LA with Chevron.  After thirty years and many transfers, Dean retired while serving as Chief Earth Scientist in Chevron USA.

Moving to the Fines Creek community, Dean enjoyed using his tractor to keep the road and landscaping controlled, woodworking and serving on the Fines Creek Volunteer Fire Department Board during construction of two additional bays.

Surviving him are his wife, Dot; a son, Dr. Michael Dean Barnum (Amanda) of Las Vegas, NV; one brother, Bruce Eugene Barnum (Jackie), and two granddaughters, Amelia Barnum and Hazel Barnum.  Services will be held in the spring.