Dolly Marlene Dean

Dolly Marlene Dean, age 93, of Sun City, Arizona, joined the Lord on December 29, 2025.

Dolly was born on March 6, 1932, in Crosby, North Dakota, to Clarence and Bertha “Berdie” Miller. She later made her home in Minot, North Dakota, where she married Leonard Dean. In 1957, they moved to Phoenix and eventually moved to Sun City to retire. They shared 59 wonderful years of marriage before Leonard’s passing in 2010. Together, they built a life rooted in family, faith, laughter, and travel, raising their two children, Larry and Bonnie.

When her daughter started school, she went too. She got a job in the school cafeteria. Later, she worked helping her husband with the TV business he started, Circle TV. He later sold that business to his employees and started an up-and-coming air conditioning business, Arizona Air Conditioning. Dolly dedicated many years of service to the State of Arizona, first working in the secretarial pool and then stints at several departments, but she decided to take a permanent position with ADOT (Arizona Dept of Transportation) when it was offered. She retired in 1992 for the very best reason—her granddaughter Deena was born. That devotion continued throughout Deena’s life, including the proud and unforgettable moment at Deena’s wedding, when Dolly walked, “rolled” her down the aisle. She also served as her bridesmaid.

A woman of strong faith, Dolly was an active and longtime member of Community Church of Joy in Glendale, Arizona, and a proud member of the Red Hat Society. She was known for her infectious laughter and quick wit, often during a conversation, with her index finger in the air, she’d say. “That reminds me of a joke…”—and it always did. Her humor was generous, playful, and occasionally just a little naughty.

Dolly and Leonard traveled to many countries on all-inclusive trips paid for by Leonard's business suppliers, and later on many road trips to Laughlin, Nevada, with her daughter. One of her favorite adventures was a three-generation Mexican Riviera cruise with Bonnie and Deena—a memory treasured by all. Something almost always went wrong on her trips (a bus breaking down on a freeway or the airline losing the luggage, heavy rain, etc.). She was so positive, often reminding us, “It makes for another great story.” She had many stories! 

Over the years, she took in anyone who needed her help, and she loved it. She offered her home, love, faith, and encouragement to all.

In 2016, she began having issues living alone and moved in with her daughter.  She was diagnosed with the dreadful disease of Alzheimer's, her worst fear.  Her doctor would tell her, "If you get it, you won’t know it…but everyone around you will.” She lived with Bonnie for 3 ½ years, during which it was determined she was always a social person and should be around others, so a group home was found. She moved on March 12, 2020…the day after they declared Covid a pandemic, never imagining the entire world would shut down. Even during her fight with Alzheimer's, she was always cheerful, laughing, and always a pleasure to be around. Everyone she met loved her! 

She was preceded in death by her husband Leonard Dean; her sister Betty (& Richard Kill), sisters-in-law Sally Kabanuck (& Ed), and brothers-in-law Stephen Dean and Richard Ringdahl, nieces Wendy Elliott Brown, Diane Kabanuck Berg and most recently Carol Kill Rita, and a nephew Matthew Dean.

Dolly leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter, carried on by her son Larry Dean (Holly), daughter Bonnie Baum, and granddaughter Deena Brown (Wesley), along with many, many precious, extended family members and dear friends. 

She will be laid to rest alongside her husband, at Arrowhead Memorial Gardens in Glendale, Arizona on March 6th, with a small Celebration of her Life, later that day.