Dean Hildebrand

Dean C. Hildebrand, 70, Bismarck, ND, died on September 10, 2008, in Rochester, MN. Services will be held on Monday at 12:00 Noon at Church of the Ascension, 1825 South 3rd Street, Bismarck, with Rev. Marvin Klemmer and Rev. Art Scanson officiating. Burial will be held at 3:00 PM at the ND Veterans Cemetery in Mandan with military honors provided by ND National Guard and VFW Post #1326. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2:00 – 9:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a rosary will begin at 6:30 PM followed by the vigil and sharing service at 7:00 PM. Colonel RET Dean C. Hildebrand was born on December 12, 1937, at Kulm, ND, the son of Wilbert and Arleen Beich Hildebrand. He was raised in Kulm and grew up in the grocery, farming, and cattle business. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in biology from Valley City State University and a Master’s of Science degree in fisheries biology from the University of North Dakota. Dean married Joey Markel on December 27, 1958, in Leeds, ND. Dean has served as a teacher, college administrator owner and operator of the marina on Devils Lake, Commander of Camp Grafton training site for the North Dakota National Guard, and Chief of Staff for the North Dakota Army National Guard. He served three sessions in the North Dakota Legislature. He received many military and civilian awards including the North Dakota Distinguished Service Medal. He was selected as the North Dakota Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year, North Dakota Junior Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Teacher of the Year, and was inducted into the Devils Lake Education Hall of Fame. Dean was also chosen Devils Lake Outstanding Citizen of the Year and received the Bismarck/Mandan Chamber of Commerce Golden Eagles Award. After 40 years of service in the National Guard, he was appointed the Director of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in April, 1996, by Governor Ed Schafer and reappointed in July, 2001, by Governor John Hoeven. Dean retired as NDGF Director in 2005. Dean is survived by his wife, Joey, Bismarck; three married children, Doni DeNucci Steve, Des Moines, IA, Kent Hildebrand Kim, Grand Rapids, MI, and Jay Hildebrand, Debby, Cedar Rapids, IA; six grandchildren, Tanner and Kali Jo Hildebrand, Devin and Aaron DeNucci, and Joey and Abby Jo Hildebrand; his mother, Arleen Beich Hildebrand; his sister, Joyce Bart Johnson; and his nephew, Daniel Pam Johnson, all of Phoenix, AZ. He was preceded in death by his father, Wilbert Hildebrand; his brother, Dennis Hildebrand; and his grandparents, Reinhold and Palma Flegel Beich and Solomon and Fredereka Nill Hildebrand.

Dean Hildebrand

December 12, 1937 - September 10, 2008