Dean Paul Holmquist

Dean Paul Holmquist, 66, passed away November 24, 2024, at Pioneer Care and Rehabilitation in Dillon, Montana, after a short bout with cancer.

Dean was born on May 3,1958, in Bozeman, Montana, to Alice J. and Wendell Thomas Holmquist. He was the sixth of seven children. Dean attended Holy Rosary High School until its closure and then graduated from Bozeman Senior High School in 1977. Dean was an avid reader and as a child, he read an entire set of Encyclopedia Britannica. Some family members wouldn’t play Trivial Pursuit unless they could be on his team. Their mother’s fear of water ensured that Dean and all his siblings were members of the Bozeman Bees swim team. Dean loved visiting the family ranch near Baker, his mother’s childhood home. The entire family looked forward to summers and their time working on the ranch. The Holmquist boys bucked a lot of bales while the girls rode horses and did chores around the ranch house.

Dean graduated from Montana State University in 1982 with degrees in Criminal Justice and History. Dean lived in Missoula and Bonner for several years and worked for the Parks Department in Missoula. Dean moved to Pioneer Care in Dillon in the fall of 2016. During the past 8 plus years he has called it home and his care has been nothing short of excellent. For these many years he was considered an outstanding resident by the staff, helping with the other residents.

Dean is predeceased by his parents, and older brother, Jon. He is survived by his brothers, Tom, of Fort Collins, CO, and Hal, of Livingston, MT; sisters, Billie Jean (Bill) Ranard, of Bozeman, Mary Jo (Scott) Haberman, of Bozeman, Wendy (Lenny) Elgen, of Belgrade, and sister-in-law, Lisa Holmquist, of Livingston; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family wishes to thank Pioneer and Bumblebee Hospice for the loving care Dean received during his time there.

Mass will be held Monday, December 2, 2024, 10:00 a.m., at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 220 West Main, Bozeman. Burial at Sunset Hills Cemetery will immediately follow the service, after which all are invited back to the church for a luncheon.