Dean Rodney Penor passed peacefully from this world to his heavenly home on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, while at Monument Health Hospice plus Home in Rapid City.

Dean was born on November 5, 1931, to Harry and Margaret Penor in Aberdeen, SD.  He attended school in Bison and participated in football, basketball, and was a cheerleader for the Girls' Basketball team.

He married Eloise Aaker, his wife of 72 years, on March 18, 1949.  Two daughters were born to them - Gloria Sessums of Sandpoint, ID, and Vera Cline of Rapid City, SD.

Dean and Eloise lived all their lives in Bison, until 3 years ago when Dean had to go on dialysis requiring them to move to Rapid City.

Dean worked with his dad for many years in the operation of Penor's Texaco until he purchased the business in 1980.  He was awarded by the Texaco Corporation many times for his mechanical diagnostic skills.

Dean dedicated his life in service to the Bison community in many capacities — as Mayor and Town Board member for many years, and the Bison Fire Department for 56 years with 48 of those years as Fire Chief — as well as 21 years on the Ambulance Service. You could hear Dean humming or whistling while he worked.  He suffered many physical ailments in his life but the whistling and humming continued. He also served on church and community boards and participated in establishing a Trap Club and Archery Club in Bison as well.  His love for the Bison community and its residents was revealed in his many acts of kindness — from sacrificing on a Sunday to pump gas, fix a tire, or repair a tractor in a farmer's field ... to fighting fires with a broken ankle.

His interests, activities and things he loved to do included: building and flying model airplanes, riding motorcycles, and snowmobiles, playing cards with friends and family, and horseback riding in his younger years. He had a special love of archery which he taught to his grandsons and great grandsons.

You could often see Dean and Eloise dancing around the living room on Saturday nights to the music on the Lawrence Welk Show. He was especially known for his story-telling (either true or fictional) you never knew for sure...as well as being a prankster...he loved to "pull your leg" as he would say.

The Bison community honored Dean and Eloise by electing them "Grand Marshalls" for the town's annual celebration in 2018.

Dean is survived by and will be missed by his family: his wife, Eloise Penor; 2 daughters, Gloria Sessums (Steve), and Vera Cline (Bob); 9 grandchildren, Rob Penor (Colleen), Roger Deibert (Susan), Rachel Eldridge (Charles), Ryan Williams (Jennifer), Michelle Lanoue (Gary), Brenna Said, Brenda Green (Lonnie), Walter Cline (Melissa), and Maria Aziz (Sam); 15 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; 1 brother, Robert Penor, MD; 1 sister, Joanne Cobian (Les); 3 sisters-in-law;  3 brothers-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded to heaven by his parents, Harry and Margaret Penor; and his brother, Chester Penor.

A Remembrance Service and visitation will be at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD on Thursday, April 29,2021, from 5-7pm .  Please come and share your memories of Dean with his family.
A Celebration of Dean's Life will be held at Grace Bible Fellowship Church in Bison, SD, on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 1:00 p.m .  Burial will follow at the Bison Cemetery.

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