G. Dean Hunting, 79, of Iona, Idaho, died Friday, October 3, 2008 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.

Gerald Dean Hunting was born in Menan, Idaho on August 22, 1929 to Nathan Ray and Fern Harrington Hunting. He was the second of three children. He attended school at Menan until the eighth grade. Dean worked hard all his life. He started his first job at age seven working on a chicken farm for Erm Adamson. At age 14 he worked for Earl Brown on a farm in Hamer, ID for three years. He then went to work at Grand Teton National Park working on trails and roads. He enlisted in the US Army at age 18. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington. He was released from the Army and later recalled. Dean was sent to Hawaii for training before going to battle in Korea. While in training there he was chosen to be a Drill Sergeant and was sent to Fort Ord because of his ability to train men. He was released in 1951. He met Dixie Fern Smith in Portland, Oregon where she was living with her sister. She moved back to Idaho and they were married on March 31, 1952 Dean never lacked for work, as he was a hard worker. He received his GED and attended Ricks College studying auto mechanics. He was a very good mechanic and passed this knowledge onto his boys. After Ricks, Dean and Dixie worked in Oregon. Dean put up power poles and installed dial phones in Richfield, Idaho and drove livestock truck for Gale Storer for four years. He and Dixie did a mail route from Idaho Falls to Alpine, Wyoming. He also met the night mail train for eleven years as a second job. During the day he was a school bus driver and mechanic for the Bonneville School District. The children loved their bus driver. Dean took the job of Transportation Supervisor for the Firth School District. He worked there for five years then drove bus for the INL for 16 years. He received several awards for safe driving and never had one citation in his life! Dean retired in 1991. Dean was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his marriage to Dixie was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on March 28, 1958. Dean built a cabin in Island Park which he and his family enjoyed for 30 years. He also built another cabin for his son. Dean loved spending time with his family and was a great and patient teacher.

Dean's health failed and he and Dixie spent their winters in Overton, Nevada for the past 6 years. He made many life long friends and people enjoyed his sense of humor and fun pranks he liked to pull. Dean was a Ham Radio operator his call letters were W7WEX. Dean built his first radio. He was active in that hobby for the rest of his life, and made many friends all over the world. Dean had a love for flying. It was a lifetime goal of his to get his pilot's license. He was very determined. He and two other friends bought and airplane. His friend taught him to fly and he got his pilot's license. He purchased three airplanes and had an airplane leasing business with a trainer plane. When his health failed and he could no longer fly, he sold the airplanes. He collected trains and enjoyed putting them together. Dean couldn't stand to be idle. He learned to make mail stocking hats on a loom. He made over 600 and gave 500 to Humanitarian Aid. All of his family and friends have a knitted hat. Dean was independent and always paid his way. He was determined and never did anything halfway. He worked slow and steady. Dean loved cowboy poetry and many enjoyed his humorous renditions. He loved his little sister Veda Mae and played many jokes on her throughout their lives. He is survived by his wife Dixie of Iona, his sons, Dave (Anna) of Idaho Falls, Douglas (Marie) of Jameston, Daniel (Jean) of Iona; Daughters, Dixean (Phillip) Grimes of Ammon, and Diane (Ryan) Poole of Ammon; 22 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren; and his sister Veda (Don) Page of Rigby. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Dean, his parents, and one brother. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 4, 2008 at the Iona LDS 1st Ward Chapel, 5169 E. Denning in Iona. The family will receive friends from 6:30-8:30p.m. Monday, October 6, 2008 and one hour prior to the services at the church. The proceedings of the funeral will be available to listen to at www.coltrinmortuary.com .