Aletta Alene Dean

Aletta A. Dean, 89, passed away Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, with family at her side. 

Aletta Alene Alexander was born October 25, 1935, in Madison, the daughter of Edward ''Ned" Arthur and Ruth (Abbey) Alexander. She graduated from Madison High School in 1953. 

Aletta married the love of her life, Kenneth A. Dean, Jr. She was a devoted homemaker for her family and worked with her husband in the family business, Dean Oil, Co. for decades. He preceded her in death on June 6, 2016. 

She was a member of the Central Christian Church in Madison. 

Aletta is survived by her children, Kenneth Allen Dean, III, Larry Brent Dean and his wife, Mirella, Jane Marie (Dean) Nichols and her husband, Robert Nichols, Paul Edward Dean and his wife, Kristan, and Neil Anthony Dean. She is survived by her grandchildren, Victoria (Dean) Smith and her husband Dylan, Sierra (Swanda) Williams and her husband Kolby and Emma Swanda and fiancé Ethan Ellis and Rachel (Dean) Schaefer and husband David and Octavian Dean and Tryphena Dean and two great grandchildren Wrenlee Williams and Rhett Smith, along with many other family members and dear friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sister, Ada Bethene Lord. 

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Sauder Community Building in Madison. Family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, January 31, 2025, at VanArsdale Funeral Home in Madison. Memorial contributions may be made to the Verdigris Valley Community Foundation, LLC, for the historical preservation of Madison Kansas and its parks and recreation, and sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Home, P.O. Box 488, Madison, Kansas 66860. Condolences may be expressed at Vanarsdalefs.com.