Dean M. Andrus

Rincon – Dean M. Andrus, 97, went home to be with the Lord on August 14, 2020.

Dean was born on June 30, 1923 on a farm in Hewitt, Minnesota to Bruce Andrus and Eva Russell Andrus. At age 18 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dean joined the United States Navy, proudly serving his country during World War II. Dean spent the next two years in the South Pacific on the USS LST 129 and the USS Cohasset Supply Ship after the LST was sunk. Dean left his ship in the Philippines in February of 1944 and returned to Nevis, MN in March of 1944. In April 1944 Dean traveled to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station where he received an Honorable Discharge from the United States as a First Class Petty Officer.

On returning, Dean purchased 80 acres east of Nevis, married Jean O. Davis, started a family and farmed for the next four years. Unable to make a go of farming, loaded up his wife, Jean, sons, Billy Dean and Bob "Scooter" and daughter, Bettie "Susie", and headed for San Jose, California in March of 1955 where their fourth child, Bonnie was born.

Dean spent the next 30 years driving an 18 wheeler, delivering Ford automobiles over the eleven western states.

Dean retired in 1985 and returned to Nevis, MN where he and his son-in-law Tony "Willie" Wilson built a home on the property that Dean purchased from his father, and where he spent the Springs and Summers for the next 30 years. The harsh winters were spent in Tony and Bettie's backyard in a small bungalow Dean and Tony built. Dean finally sold his retirement home in 2016 and moved to Georgia permanently.

Dean was preceded in death by parents Bruce and Eva Andrus, older brother Don, two older sisters Doone Covell and Dorathia Coyle. The mother of their children Jean Davis Andrus, their sons Billy Dean and Bob "Scooter" Andrus, Dean's second wife Yvonne, his third wife Wylma and their foster daughter Nancy Velasco.

Dean is survived by his two daughters Bettie "Susie" (Tony) Wilson and Bonnie (Ben) Miller, brother-in-law Mike (Trudy) Davis, his extended families, the Schoons and a stepson Paul Van der Meer (Lalla) from South Africa. Dean had 17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A service will be held at Rincon Baptist Temple at a later date.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home Effingham Chapel (912) 754-6421