Iva Dean was born in Ridgeway, MO. the 3rd of 4 children. Her quick wit, wry humor, and wise counsel will be missed by her family. She, like most people of her generation, was greatly influenced by the Depression and later World War II.

She went to work at Lowery Air Force base in Denver, CO. In April 1946 she married Lee and moved to Norton, KS.

Lee and Iva Dean had 2 children Cynthia and William. In 1957 they moved to Belle Fourche, SD. were Lee took a job with the Ben Franklin store. They purchased the Ben Franklin Store and in 1973 purchased the Belle Theater building and moved the business. They owned and operated the Ben Franklin store for 25 years until they sold their business and retired in 1986.

When they retired they moved full time to their beloved cabin in Spearfish Canyon that they purchased in 1977, where they enjoyed life until Lee's death in 1995. At that time Iva Dean moved to Spearfish where she lived until 2017 when she moved back to Belle Fourche. Iva Dean volunteered at the High Plains Heritage Museum, D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery, the Spearfish Art in the Park and the Black Hills Theatre in Spearfish among others.

Iva Dean Watkins is survived by her brother James Snipes of Norwalk, IA, her daughter Cynthia Albert of Green Valley, AZ. and her son William Watkins of Rapid City, SD., 3 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, half-sister Wave, older sister Madeleen and her husband Lee of 49 yrs.

A graveside service will be held at 2:30pm on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. A greeting and time of sharing reception will fo0llow at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Spearfish at 3:30pm. Friends are invited to meet at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel at 1:30pm to travel in procession to Black Hills National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established with the Savoy Fire Department Spearfish Canyon.