Dean Earl Sturgis
Local man dies in car accident August 9
A 46-year-old Lusk man lost his life in a one-car accident 29 miles north of Lusk on Thursday, Aug. 9.
According to Wyoming State Highway Patrolman Jay Gruwell, the investigating officer, Dean E. Sturgis was traveling north on U.S. 86 driving his 1989 GMC 4x4 short wheel base pickup, pulling his 1974 22' Prowler camper trailer. Behind that he was pulling a 14' Steury tent trailer.
Sturgis passed a passenger car and the tent trailer started whipping causing the camper trailer to swerve and throw the pickup out of control and into the east borrow pit where the pickup rolled 1 1/4 times, the Prowler 1/4 time and the tent trailer 1/2 time.
Sturgis was not wearing a seatbelt and was totally ejected from the vehicle. He sustained head injuries, multiple fractures and had internal bleeding. He died approximately two hours after the accident in the emergency room at Niobrara Memorial Hospital from his injuries.
OBITUARY
Services for Dean Earl Sturgis, age 46, of Lusk, were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, 1990 in the Peet Mortuary Chapel in Lusk. Another service was to be held today (Wednesday) at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Neb. Burial will follow in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.
Sturgis died Thursday, Aug. 9, 1990, in the Niobrara County Memorial Hospital in Lusk from injuries received in an auto accident. He was born March 3, 1944, in Holdrege, Neb., the son of L. B. and Florence Sturgis. He was raised with a farming background and attended Trinity Evangelical Free Church, the R7 Grade School and Holdrege High School, graduating in 1962. He then graduated from the Milford Trade School and served in the Air National Guard.
On July 5, 1968, he was united in marriage to Marjorie E. Beardsley. They had one daughter, Janet Dean.
Sturgis was a member of the Holdrege Elks Lodge and past member of the Holdrege and Lusk Volunteer Fire Departments. He enjoyed participating in the productions of the Rawhide Pageant.
Sturgis was employed by KN Energy in Holdrege and Lusk. He owned and operated the Coast to Coast Store in Newcastle and then was employed by Petro Lewis Corp. in Osage, Wyo. He was then employed by Texaco Oil Company in Houston, Texas, and at the time of his death was operating Sturgis Well Service in Lusk.
He was a man who strived for life and lived his life fully. He enjoyed helping other people. He left his mark on everyone that met him. He was a man that wasn't happy unless he was doing something, whether it was hunting, fishing, working or being a great friend. He will be greatly missed by everyone.
Survivors include his daughter, Janet Sturgis, Walla Walla, Wash.; his parents, L. B. (Bill) and Florence Sturgis, Holdrege; a sister, Dorothy Peterson and husband Duane, Holdrege; three brothers; Dale and wife Loretta, Holdrege; Evert and wife Bonita, Axtel, Neb.; and Chuck and wife Linda, Holdrege; and many nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by a very special friend, Evelyn Lemons and her children, Peggy and Kevin Howell, Mike Johnson, Scott Johnson, Katie Lemons, plus many other relatives and friends.
For those who wish, memorials to the family would be appreciated. An appropriate memorial will be decided at a later date.
Peet Mortuary of Lusk is in charge of local arrangements.