Dean was born June 1, 1932, in Rembrandt, Iowa, to Walter L. and Elida D. (Nelson) Gulbranson. The family moved to Worthington, Minn., in 1946 where Dean met Beverly A. Benson, his high school sweetheart. Dean enlisted in the MN National Guard during high school and was called to active duty in 1950 right after graduation. Dean joined the U.S. Air Force and was selected to serve in the Air Force’s premier band at Bolling Field, Washington, DC. Dean and Beverly were married at First Lutheran Church in Worthington on Oct 27, 1952. After his USAF discharge, Dean earned a music degree at Mankato State College in 1957. He worked as a band director in four Iowa and Minnesota schools before moving to Truman in 1966. Dean played trombone with the Freddie Fredricks Orchestra and several other area dance bands and sang in Fairmont’s Al Zinter Chorale. Dean and Beverly were both active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Truman for 56 years where he sang and directed their choir for several years. A musician through and through, Dean was also an avid golfer and loved model railroading. Later, Dean worked for Tyco Plastics and drove for Martin County Express in Fairmont, a service he loved to provide up to the day he retired on his 80th birthday. Dean is survived by his children, Deborah Voltin of Richfield, Minn., Dr. Steven (Jan) Gulbranson of El Paso, Texas, Kathryn (Gary) Kleist of Rochester, Minn., and Michael Gulbranson of San Antonio, Texas; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; twin sister, Dorothea Kinsman; and brother and sisters-in-law, Joyce (Jay) Ohlsen, Ilona Benson, and Shirlee Benson. Dean was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 69 years, Beverly, who passed away in Sept. 2021; son-in-law, Larry H. Voltin; his parents; brothers and their wives, Dwayne (Mickey), Norman (Mary), and Gordon (Charlotte) Gulbranson; sister and her husband, Karen (Clarence) Schol; and brother-in-law, James Kinsman. Memorials, in celebration of Dean’s life, may be sent to Mayo Hospice, 1025 Marsh St., Mankato, MN 56001.

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