Ronald "Ron" Allen Dean

Ronald “Ron” Allen Dean, age 69, of Gering, Nebraska, passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, after a courageous battle with leukemia. His memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, with Pastor Charlie Bagley officiating. Memorials may be made in care of the family for future designation. Ron’s memorial service will be livestreamed and recorded on his obituary page, viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Ron was born January 26, 1957, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Darrell L. Dean and Elvera “Louise” (Cawley) Dean.

He married Kendra West in 1975, and to this union three sons were born: Darrell, Jason, and Nathan. On May 10, 1996, Ron married Sandra Kay Hoff. Through this marriage, Ron gained another son, Tyler, whom he loved and raised as his own.

After exploring various career paths, Ron found his true calling in 1990 when he joined the Morrill County Sheriff’s Department. His dedication and leadership led to his promotion to Chief Deputy Sheriff. Ron was a respected member of numerous regional and state law enforcement task forces. Following his tenure with the sheriff’s department, he continued his service at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center until his retirement in 2023. Throughout his decades in uniform, Ron’s integrity and character earned him lifelong friendships across the law enforcement community.

Outside of work, Ron was a man of many passions. He was often found riding his Harley, fishing, camping, or honing his skills in woodworking and at the shooting range. He was famously known for tackling every "honey-do" project Sandy could find. During his downtime, he enjoyed the company of his cinematic heroes, frequently revisiting the films of John “The Duke” Wayne, The Wizard of Oz, and various classic Westerns.

Ron was also deeply involved in his community as a Master Mason with Scotts Bluff Masonic Lodge #201, an NRA Firearms Instructor, and a Hunter’s Education Instructor. In earlier years, he served as a Cub Master and assisted with the Boy Scouts of America with his sons. His favorite part was the camping and pinewood derbies. He also served with the Gering Fire Department and the Gering Jaycees, always stepping forward when his community needed him.

Survivors include his loving wife, Sandy Dean; sons, Darrell Dean (Angela Englehaupt) of Scottsbluff, Jason (Amanda) Dean of Lincoln, and Tyler Dean of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and cherished granddaughters, Delaney, Gillian, Brylee, and Ella. He is also survived by his sisters, Vickie (Steve) Fritzler of Alliance and Brenda Schultz (Gary Huber) of Gering; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Merle and Connie Hagen of Scottsbluff, along with their children Michelle, Brooke, and Cody; his “mom-in-law,” Shirley Botzki of Gering; along with numerous nieces, nephews, colleagues, and friends; and his loyal fur-babies, Abby, Daisy, and Peaches, and his grand-pup, Gracie, who will all miss him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved son, Nathan; and his grandparents, Keith and Wilma Dean and Lewis and Lila Cawley.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Tim and Cassidy Kramer, for their unwavering support during Ron’s long battle with Leukemia, and the many trips to Denver, especially over the final weeks of his life.