Dean O’Donnell, 84 years, a longtime resident of Sutherland, NE, passed away Thursday, March 5, 2015, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Frank Dean O’Donnell was born February 4, 1931, to Gailen Berma and Edna Lillian Smith O’Donnell in Paxton, NE. He grew up in Hershey, NE where he attended school through the 5th grade before the family moved to O’Fallans. Dean graduated from O’Fallans High School in 1948 then began farming with his father. Dean was also a baseball player; he played American Legion Baseball for five years with teams from Hershey, Paxton and North Platte then with the Hershey Giants town team for another eight years. In later years he also coached the Sutherland American Legion Baseball teams.

On September 11, 1949, Dean was united in marriage to Betty Joanne Bostwick in North Platte. They made their home on the farm two miles west of Hershey for a couple years before settling on a farm northwest of Sutherland in 1951 where they farmed and fed cattle for over 60 years. Dean was active in the Sutherland community, serving on the school board, cemetery board and the Sutherland Co-op board of directors, and was secretary/treasurer of the Sutherland Rural Fire District.

Dean and Betty were avid square dancers, belonging to the Goodtime Dancers in North Platte. He was also an active Square Dance Caller for 20 years, calling dances two or three nights a week. He bowled for several years and liked to hunt as well as watch and play sports.

Dean had been a member of the Sutherland United Methodist Church for over 50 years and was a member of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 66 years, Betty, of Sutherland; son, Mike (Dixie) O’Donnell, of Lincoln, NE; three grandchildren, Don O’Donnell, of Moville, IA, Bryan (Jamie) O’Donnell, of Shizuoka, Japan, and Tracy (Zac) Witcher, of Conway, AR; five great-grandchildren, Lawson Witcher and Jones, Ezra, Harper and Ivy O’Donnell; brother-in-law, Bill Stuckey, of Honey Creek, IA; his aunt, Madonna Rourke, of Bakersfield, CA; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and other family.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Gailen and Edna; a sister, Carol Stuckey; and two infant brothers.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at the Sutherland United Methodist Church with Pastor Kola

Akinnigbagbe officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery south of Sutherland. Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the Sutherland Rural Fire Dept., Sutherland Senior Center, United Methodist Church or the donor’s choice. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.