Max H. Dean

Maxwell Harold "Toad" Dean died at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, Kansas on Saturday, January 28, 2006. He was born on November 14, 1915, to Clarence and Ella Brown Dean in Glen Elder, Kansas.
He grew up on a farm north of town and attended a country school a few miles away. Later, the family moved to Glen Elder. He grew up in a family of two brothers, Keith and Vinton (John), and two sisters, Bernice and Beulah. Work on the farm, long walks and horseback rides to school, sports, hunting, and fishing with his friends and family occupied his childhood. After graduation from Glen Elder High School, he moved to Beloit and had several jobs over the next few years: working for the railroad, selling cars, and working for Dick's Motor Supply. It was during this time that his courtship of Geneva Porter began.
With the coming of World War II, Toad was the first man in Mitchell County to volunteer for the draft. He and Geneva were married during one of his leaves on February 6, 1943. His service in the Army took him all through the war effort in Europe, including participation in the Battle of the Bulge.
Back at home, Max again went to work in the auto parts business, first as a salesman on the road for R&M Auto Parts, and later as the store manager. During these years, his circle of friends grew in communities all over the area he called on every week. He never forgot these friends and loved nothing better than making new ones, especially the kids who came into the store and never failed to get a nickel from him to buy peanuts from the vending machine on the counter.
His family life by thencentered around the activities of his two sons, Jerry and Dennis. He faithfully attended their school activities and sporting events, especially baseball games. As a member of the Beloit Lions Club, he coached teams and helped administer the Cookie baseball program. He followed the boys' games as they progressed through K-18 and American Legion. Later in his life, Max was thrilled to add his granddaughter Kellyn's activities to his interests. As long as his health permitted, well into his 80's, he could be found every summer at the Cookie ball field, meeting old and making new friends.
After retirement from R&M, he went back to an old job for him, selling cars part time for Beloit Motor Company. He loved the chance it gave him to travel his old territory, see people he loved, and even sell a few cars.
Max was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sisters, and his dear wife Geneva, whose passing left an unfillable void in his life.
He is survived by his son Jerry and his wife Jo of Beloit, and his son Denny and his wife Lawrin and their daughter Kellyn of Joshua, Texas, and many friends and relatives.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 31, at the Glen Elder United Methodist Church with burial in the Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit. Memorials may be given to the Solomon Valley Hospice or the Beloit Lions Baseball Program. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday at the McDonald Funeral Home in Beloit.