Dean William Mitchell was born September 1, 1934, in Bismarck, North Dakota to William and Fanny Mitchell. After a battle with cancer, he passed away at home surrounded by his family on November 8, 2023.
Dean grew up in Mott, North Dakota and the family moved to Pullman, Washington in 1947. Dean graduated from Pullman High School in 1952. In high school he was active in sports and other activities. After high school it was off across town to WSC. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and majored in speech while working at the college radio station. During his senior year in college, he married his high school sweetheart, Helen Skinner. A summer job in Boise after graduation led to a job in Bellingham working at KVOS-TV. Their first child, David, was born in Bellingham. In 1957 they moved to Kennewick, Washington, where their second son, Douglas, was born.
After a brief company move to Yakima where their daughter Lisa was born, it was back to the Tri-Cities to manage KEPR radio, where the call letters were later switched to KONA AM/FM. He and his KONA team were the voice of local news and the hydroplane races that many Tri-Citians (and many coast-to-coast) listened to annually. Dean was able to purchase the two radio stations in 1978 and after 45 years of radio work he sold the facilities and retired in 2002. He and Helen were able to take trips with friends and spend a lot of time with family at their cabin in Idaho.
Dean believed in being an involved member of the community and was active in many Tri-City community groups. They included the Tri-City Visitor Bureau, Tri-City Chamber, TRIDEC, The Reading Foundation, CBC Foundation, Kennewick Housing Authority (he was a Commissioner for 30 years), Banner Bank (he was a Director) and the Kennewick Man of the Year organization. He was named the Kennewick Man of the Year in 1980 and the Tri-Citian of the Year in 1982. He was an active member of Kennewick First United Methodist Church, an avid golfer, and WSU Cougar supporter.
Dean was predeceased by his soulmate Helen in 2022 after 66 years of marriage, a brother Curtis, and his parents. His remaining family members include his children: David (Vali) Mitchell in Honolulu, Douglas (Kathy) Mitchell and Lisa (Bruce) Cutter, in Spokane. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Ashley (Kyle) Olivier, Steven Cutter, Morgan (Joel) Orchard, and McKenna and Claire Mitchell. In addition, he enjoyed precious time with his great grandchildren, Emma and Isaac Olivier and Owen Dean Orchard.
A memorial service will be held at Kennewick First United Methodist Church, where he was an active member for 62 years, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to either the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation or the Boy's and Girl's Club.
Dean grew up in Mott, North Dakota and the family moved to Pullman, Washington in 1947. Dean graduated from Pullman High School in 1952. In high school he was active in sports and other activities. After high school it was off across town to WSC. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and majored in speech while working at the college radio station. During his senior year in college, he married his high school sweetheart, Helen Skinner. A summer job in Boise after graduation led to a job in Bellingham working at KVOS-TV. Their first child, David, was born in Bellingham. In 1957 they moved to Kennewick, Washington, where their second son, Douglas, was born.
After a brief company move to Yakima where their daughter Lisa was born, it was back to the Tri-Cities to manage KEPR radio, where the call letters were later switched to KONA AM/FM. He and his KONA team were the voice of local news and the hydroplane races that many Tri-Citians (and many coast-to-coast) listened to annually. Dean was able to purchase the two radio stations in 1978 and after 45 years of radio work he sold the facilities and retired in 2002. He and Helen were able to take trips with friends and spend a lot of time with family at their cabin in Idaho.
Dean believed in being an involved member of the community and was active in many Tri-City community groups. They included the Tri-City Visitor Bureau, Tri-City Chamber, TRIDEC, The Reading Foundation, CBC Foundation, Kennewick Housing Authority (he was a Commissioner for 30 years), Banner Bank (he was a Director) and the Kennewick Man of the Year organization. He was named the Kennewick Man of the Year in 1980 and the Tri-Citian of the Year in 1982. He was an active member of Kennewick First United Methodist Church, an avid golfer, and WSU Cougar supporter.
Dean was predeceased by his soulmate Helen in 2022 after 66 years of marriage, a brother Curtis, and his parents. His remaining family members include his children: David (Vali) Mitchell in Honolulu, Douglas (Kathy) Mitchell and Lisa (Bruce) Cutter, in Spokane. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Ashley (Kyle) Olivier, Steven Cutter, Morgan (Joel) Orchard, and McKenna and Claire Mitchell. In addition, he enjoyed precious time with his great grandchildren, Emma and Isaac Olivier and Owen Dean Orchard.
A memorial service will be held at Kennewick First United Methodist Church, where he was an active member for 62 years, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to either the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation or the Boy's and Girl's Club.
Dean William Mitchell was born September 1, 1934, in Bismarck, North Dakota to William and Fanny Mitchell. After a battle with cancer, he passed away at home surrounded by his family on November 8, 2023.
Dean grew up in Mott, North Dakota and the family moved to Pullman, Washington in 1947. Dean graduated from Pullman High School in 1952. In high school he was active in sports and other activities. After high school it was off across town to WSC. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and majored in speech while working at the college radio station. During his senior year in college, he married his high school sweetheart, Helen Skinner. A summer job in Boise after graduation led to a job in Bellingham working at KVOS-TV. Their first child, David, was born in Bellingham. In 1957 they moved to Kennewick, Washington, where their second son, Douglas, was born.
After a brief company move to Yakima where their daughter Lisa was born, it was back to the Tri-Cities to manage KEPR radio, where the call letters were later switched to KONA AM/FM. He and his KONA team were the voice of local news and the hydroplane races that many Tri-Citians (and many coast-to-coast) listened to annually. Dean was able to purchase the two radio stations in 1978 and after 45 years of radio work he sold the facilities and retired in 2002. He and Helen were able to take trips with friends and spend a lot of time with family at their cabin in Idaho.
Dean believed in being an involved member of the community and was active in many Tri-City community groups. They included the Tri-City Visitor Bureau, Tri-City Chamber, TRIDEC, The Reading Foundation, CBC Foundation, Kennewick Housing Authority (he was a Commissioner for 30 years), Banner Bank (he was a Director) and the Kennewick Man of the Year organization. He was named the Kennewick Man of the Year in 1980 and the Tri-Citian of the Year in 1982. He was an active member of Kennewick First United Methodist Church, an avid golfer, and WSU Cougar supporter.
Dean was predeceased by his soulmate Helen in 2022 after 66 years of marriage, a brother Curtis, and his parents. His remaining family members include his children: David (Vali) Mitchell in Honolulu, Douglas (Kathy) Mitchell and Lisa (Bruce) Cutter, in Spokane. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Ashley (Kyle) Olivier, Steven Cutter, Morgan (Joel) Orchard, and McKenna and Claire Mitchell. In addition, he enjoyed precious time with his great grandchildren, Emma and Isaac Olivier and Owen Dean Orchard.
A memorial service will be held at Kennewick First United Methodist Church, where he was an active member for 62 years, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to either the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation or the Boy's and Girl's Club.
Dean grew up in Mott, North Dakota and the family moved to Pullman, Washington in 1947. Dean graduated from Pullman High School in 1952. In high school he was active in sports and other activities. After high school it was off across town to WSC. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and majored in speech while working at the college radio station. During his senior year in college, he married his high school sweetheart, Helen Skinner. A summer job in Boise after graduation led to a job in Bellingham working at KVOS-TV. Their first child, David, was born in Bellingham. In 1957 they moved to Kennewick, Washington, where their second son, Douglas, was born.
After a brief company move to Yakima where their daughter Lisa was born, it was back to the Tri-Cities to manage KEPR radio, where the call letters were later switched to KONA AM/FM. He and his KONA team were the voice of local news and the hydroplane races that many Tri-Citians (and many coast-to-coast) listened to annually. Dean was able to purchase the two radio stations in 1978 and after 45 years of radio work he sold the facilities and retired in 2002. He and Helen were able to take trips with friends and spend a lot of time with family at their cabin in Idaho.
Dean believed in being an involved member of the community and was active in many Tri-City community groups. They included the Tri-City Visitor Bureau, Tri-City Chamber, TRIDEC, The Reading Foundation, CBC Foundation, Kennewick Housing Authority (he was a Commissioner for 30 years), Banner Bank (he was a Director) and the Kennewick Man of the Year organization. He was named the Kennewick Man of the Year in 1980 and the Tri-Citian of the Year in 1982. He was an active member of Kennewick First United Methodist Church, an avid golfer, and WSU Cougar supporter.
Dean was predeceased by his soulmate Helen in 2022 after 66 years of marriage, a brother Curtis, and his parents. His remaining family members include his children: David (Vali) Mitchell in Honolulu, Douglas (Kathy) Mitchell and Lisa (Bruce) Cutter, in Spokane. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Ashley (Kyle) Olivier, Steven Cutter, Morgan (Joel) Orchard, and McKenna and Claire Mitchell. In addition, he enjoyed precious time with his great grandchildren, Emma and Isaac Olivier and Owen Dean Orchard.
A memorial service will be held at Kennewick First United Methodist Church, where he was an active member for 62 years, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to either the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation or the Boy's and Girl's Club.
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