Dean Max Jones

Dean Max Jones, 85, Lincoln, Kansas, passed away May 1, 2024, in Clancy, Montana. Dean was born in Beloit, Kansas November 12, 1938, at the Mitchell County Community Hospital, to Delmont Emery and Wilma Avanelle (Rathbun) Jones. He was the second of three boys. He graduated high school in Lincoln, Kansas in 1956, attended Bethany College and joined the United States Army. Dean then returned home and worked with his parents on the Custom Harvesting business. In 1964 he met the love of his life Ellen Jane Christensen in Dickenson, North Dakota. They were married in 1965, and had three children, Barbara Ellen, Michele Elaine, and Brian Dean.

Dean was a second-generation Custom Harvester. Dean’s father, Delmont started the Custom Harvesting Business when Dean was young. Delmont and 3 of his brothers were members of the Million Acre Harvest Brigade during WWII. They were awarded 4 of the 500 new Massey Harris self- propelled combines that were allowed to be built. They signed contracts that required them to cut 2000 acres of wheat with each machine.

Dean purchased his own combines and after he and Ellen were married, they worked side by side running their Custom Harvesting Business for 31 years. Dean took pride in teaching their children the business, since they traveled as a family every summer, making friends from Texas to North Dakota and Montana and everywhere they went, until Ellen passed away in 1996. Dean then continued to Harvest with his son Brian until retiring in 2010.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Delmont and Avanelle Jones, his wife Ellen, his daughter Barbara, his older brother Larry Jones, his sisters-in-law Bonnie Jones (Gary), Sandra Meier (Richard), DeeAnn Neighbor (Bernie), brother-in-law James Christensen and a nephew Eric Jones. He is survived by loved ones including his daughter Michele Walker (JD) of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, his son Brian Jones of Lincoln, Kansas, his grandchildren Joshua Morris, Farren McEvers (Travis), Sean Lopp (Christina), Kelsey Bender (Calvin), Madison Jones and Kaven Jones, his great grandchildren Oliver Squires, Theo McEvers, Remmi McEvers, Bentley Mondragon, Jostyn Mondragon, Avery Bender, Alden Sanford, Christal Sanford, Shiloh Lopp and Max Lopp, his brother Gary Jones, sister-in-law Charlene Jones, his brother-in-law Richard Meier, his many nephews, nieces, and great nephews and nieces.

He will be missed by so many other loved ones he considered family as well. The men that worked for him and Ellen over the years, the families they worked for, and the very close friends they maintained. There will be a Celebration of Life in White Sulphur Springs, Montana on Saturday June 22, 2024, at the Lane Bar (The Old Mint Bar as that was one of his favorites. He loved the chicken.) from 3pm to 5pm.

Dean will be laid to rest next to his wife Ellen with a small graveside service on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Prairie Grove Cemetery at 8:30am in Lincoln County Kansas and a Celebration of Life will be held afterwards at the VFW in Lincoln starting at 10am.