Dean Buchanan

Dean Despain Buchanan died of conditions incident to age on Thursday, June 26, 2014, at the home of her daughter Rosalee in Richfield, Utah. She had recently celebrated her 97 ^th birthday on May 24 ^th . Born in 1917, Dean’s long life spanned an amazing array of events beginning with the birth of her and their twin sister Della in a two-room log cabin in Venice, Utah. She was witness to almost a century of amazing technological advances from horse and buggy to jet, from no phone to cell, from typewriter to computer.

Her parents were James Livingston and Elsie Minnie Christina Olsen Despain. Her siblings included LaVar, Owen, Iona, Leo, LaVee, Della, Rulla and Ila Mae, all who preceded her in death. Dean’s entire life was centered in the little southern Utah town of Venice. It was here that she grew up with her large, hard-working family. It was here that she went to grade school. It was here that she fell in love with Ralph A. Buchanan, a classmate and eternal soul mate. They were married and sealed for eternity in the Manti Temple, May 10, 1941. Dean and Ralph reared six children in the shadow of the Black Knoll: Janet Marie Potter Nielson (Scott), Sheldon (Lynnette), Rosalee Riddle (David), Madelyn Ogden Christensen (Steve), Rex (Terry), and Rock Lester (Yvonne).

Dean and Ralph worked hand in hand in farming, ranching and turkey production to support their family. When Ralph passed away in 1970, Dean carried on bravely and independently, assisted faithfully by sons Sheldon and Rock, doing whatever was required to keep the family business moving forward. She worked for several years at J. C. Penney’s in Richfield. And was able to take several memorable trips to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii and the Eastern United States.

The hallmark of Dean’s life was service – to family, to neighbors, to church. Her membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was quintessentially important to her. She served in a variety of Church positions, including seven years as Venice Ward Relief Society president and several years as a ward librarian. Along with Enid Jamison and her sister LaVee, Dean collected, organized and published a history of Venice, entitled Venice Town . She leaves behind a closet-full of genealogical records which she kept meticulously over the years.

Her legacy includes 26 grandchildren, 70 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Glenwood LDS Ward Chapel. Friends may call at the Magleby Mortuary in Richfield on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 or at the ward chapel in Glenwood on Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Venice Cemetery which overlooks the peaceful Sevier Valley where she lived so many productive years.