Dean Kittleson

Dean Kittleson, age 87, of Fertile, MN, passed away on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile. A memorial graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 12th, at Maple Bay Free Lutheran Cemetery in Maple Bay, MN with the Rev. Joel Smeby officiating. There will be refreshments and a time for visiting following the service at the Maple Bay Church. Cemetery seating will be limited so please bring your own chair. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Dean Edmund Kittleson was born on April 15th,1936 on the family farm in Woodside Township, rural Maple Bay, MN.  His parents were Bennie and Hilda (Hovland) Kittleson. He was baptized and confirmed at Maple Lake Lutheran Church, rural Fertile. He attended Woodside country school and Mentor Public School, graduating in 1954.  

Dean was united in marriage to Phyllis Ann Abbott on October 7, 1961 at Faith Lutheran Church in Mentor. After their marriage, they moved to the family dairy farm east of Maple Bay, MN raising two children, Charles and Kathryn.  He loved duck hunting, collecting guns and coins, and his favorite hobby….talking!

Dean worked for Bradley Motors in Erskine in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.  In 1990, Dean and Phyllis opened a child care business in Crookston named Future Edition. They operated the business until 2004.

Dean and Phyllis moved off the farm in 2013 after 52 years of marriage, into their new home in Summerfield Apartments in Fertile.  After Phyllis passed away in January of 2020, Dean moved into Fair Meadow Nursing Home where he has lived since Nov. 2021.

Dean was an active member of Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church.  He will be remembered for his strong and steady faith in God. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.  Dean was a loving and devoted husband, dad, grandpa, brother and uncle.

Dean is survived by his two children, Charles (Mary) Kittleson of Roseau, MN, and Kathryn (Stuart) Lien of Bagley, MN; 7  grandchildren, Jessica (Lucas) Hansen, Newton, IA; Kayla (Brian) Anderson, Roseau, MN; Brian (Ariel) Kittleson, Chesapeake, VA; Jordan (Forrest) Anderson, Grand Forks, ND;  Isaac (Candace) Lien, Breezy Point, MN; Lauren Lien (Tory Syverson), Clearbrook, MN and Faith (Justin) Juve, Park Rapids, MN.  

13 great grandchildren, Spencer Hansen, Marshall Penning, Cameron Hansen, Violette Hansen, Emma, Caleb, Micah & Isaac Anderson, Madilyn & Noah Kittleson, Maci Syverson, Vivian Anderson and Baby Juve (due Jan. 2024).  

Surviving is one sister, Donna Brander of Hemet, CA, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Audrey and Dennis Flemming, Des Moines, IA and Janice Nelson and Norman Abbott, Montesano, WA and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis, his parents, Bennie and Hilda Kittleson, father and mother-in-law, Earl and Alice Abbott, an infant brother, sisters and brothers-in-law, Harriet (Bob) Lewin, Shirley (Sigurd) Randa, Byron Ward, Robert Brander, and Eugene Abbott.