Ernest Dean Stricklin age 84 passed away at home in the early hours of Tuesday March 24th with his family present. Dean was born on August 7th, 1941 in Talledega, Alabama, but moved with his family to Minnesota at age 8.

Dean was a graduate of Marshall High School in Southeast Minneapolis, where he was the Homecoming King his senior year.  Very athletic, he excelled in basketball, but played football, baseball, and was on the track team and enjoyed pole vaulting.  He also loved to sing in the choir.

In 1965 he was married to his “beautiful Dar” in Minneapolis. 

Dean had the privilege of learning the skill of acting under Dr. Tyrone Guthrie. It was at an after party that he met Dar.

They pursued acting and moved to Hollywood.

Their children were born in California and they decided to move back to Minnesota.

Dean was National Distribution Manager at K-Tel in the mid 70’s. He also worked for the Star Tribune.  He worked his way into printing and eventually ended up in sales. 

He was active in the Vietnam Memorial, in honor of his brother’s death at only 18.

Dean's transformative moment is when he gave his life to Jesus on December 21, 1977, and was baptized the following year. It was at that moment that he started a lifelong relationship with his Savior, sharing the message of love with anyone and everyone.

Dean’s hobbies included writing, studying scriptures, following sports, especially the Minnesota home teams, the Twins and Vikings. He loved watching high school sports and March Madness basketball.  Dean was known for his ability to listen with empathy. He remembered and cared about the small things that people shared, and this made him a good friend.  He had a love for nature and appreciation for birds, sunsets, oceans, lakes and mountains. He had a heart of gratitude appreciating the smallest acts of kindness. Dean found beauty in almost everything.

Dean’s strong faith and kind spirit is what he will be remembered for.

He was a devoted family man and will be missed by many.

He was preceded in death by his parents Grady and Eunice Stricklin, and brother Thomas Stricklin. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dar (Norberg), daughter Jennifer and her husband, Dennis O’Shea; son Jason, and his wife Katie; sisters Judy (Kenny), Sharon (Michael), and many beloved nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Dean leaves behind his legacy in his grandchildren: Sierra Zane, Kaisha Troe (Jonah), Jacob Stricklin (Jackie), Gabriel Strickin, Korban Stricklin. To his delight he had 8 great-granchildren and one great-grandson on the way. They are Jayden, Zander, Melody, Justus, Damaris, Jordan, Lois, and Mercy.

His passing has left an emptiness that is painful at best.

He was a warrior of love and kindness and he will be missed dearly by his family, friends, church community, and the Owatonna community.

The family would like to express their thanks to the amazing team that is St. Croix Hospice.

His service will be held on April 11th, at 11am (10:00am visitation) at Redemption Church in Owatonna, Mn.