Dean Ballhagen

Dean Ballhagen, age 69, of rural Beardsley, MN passed away Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at his home under hospice care.

A Memorial Visitation will be held Friday, October 29, 2021 from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Prayer Service at the United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Browns Valley, MN. Lay Speaker Steph Warren will lead the Prayer Service.

A Private Family Burial will take place at a later date.

Dean Royce Ballhagen was born February 11, 1952 in Browns Valley, MN to Melvin and Marlys (Backman) Ballhagen. He attended school and graduated from Browns Valley High School. Dean was raised on a farm near Beardsley, MN and took over the family farming operation. He was united in marriage to Gayle Brown on October 23, 1976. The couple moved into his grandparents farm, just a mile away from his home farm. He lived his entire life in Traverse County. He raced horses at the Traverse County Fair in his youth, and was said to have the wildest horses around. Dean was happy to have his youngest son Justin join the family farming operation moving into his parents farm just down the road. The two of them farmed together the past thirty years.

Dean loved to farm, he raised cattle, but his true passion was hunting and fishing, although he didn’t eat fish. Dean was always on the hunt. He collected guns, purchasing his last gun just three weeks ago. A call to Kevin to get the gun sighted in was made, as it always was. Trips to Wyoming with his sons and friends provided many fond memories and lots of laughs. Dean enjoyed having his family close by. Family “get togethers” where Gayle cooked “meat and potatoes” were his favorite. Dean loved to tease and give people a hard time; and enjoyed it even more when they gave it back to him. In the last several years, time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren was his favorite pastime. He was a wonderful grandfather, calling his grandchildren daily, and attending many sporting events.

Dean is survived by his wife Gayle of Beardsley, MN; sons: Kevin (Sara) Ballhagen of Wheaton; and Justin Ballhagen of Beardsley, MN; four grandchildren: Austin, Blake, Lexi and Matthew; one brother Darvin Ballhagen of Wilmot, SD; sister-in-law Diane Ballhagen of Wheaton, MN; mother-in-law Darlyne Brown of Sisseton, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents; brother LaVerne Ballhagen, an infant brother; sister-in-law Neoma Ballhagen and father-in-law Orville Brown.