Dean Adkins

Dean Adkins, 67, of Libby, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005, at St. John¹s Lutheran Hospital.

He was born to Emmett Adkins and Janet Tunison Adkins, at Libby, on July 13, 1937.

When he was very young his family moved to Burien, Wash., and lived there until moving to Troy when Dean was 11 years old.

He attended Troy schools, graduating from Troy High School in 1955.

After high school Dean worked for the J. Neils Lumber Company.

He married high school sweetheart Ellen McNulty in December 1955.

They moved to Libby and Dean continued working for J. Neils, St. Regis and Champion in the logging operations. He also owned and operated his own logging truck for 13 years, retiring in 1999.

Following retirement he began to spend more time doing the things he loved the most.

His greatest joy came from spending time with family and friends at their cabin and fishing in the quiet mornings and evenings with his wife.

Fishing and camping experiences took him to various waters, including Lake McDonald, Kootenai Lakes and Alaska¹s Cook Inlet.

Many hours were spent making and executing plans for seasonal elk hunting trips.

Dean also enjoyed a good game of cribbage and ³visiting with the guys² at Delbert Carr¹s.

Survivors include Ellen, his wife for 49 years, Libby; son Barry Adkins and daughters Julie Kendall and her husband Bob, and Janie Bache and her husband Jeff, all of Libby; brother Dave Adkins, also of Libby, grandchildren August, Jeremiah, Sammi, Katie and Nathan and great-grandsons Mason and Landyn.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents and brother Willis.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home with longtime friend Pastor Gene Bushnell officiating.

Friends may call at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home Chapel from 3-8 p.m. on Friday.