Dean Wood Lane

Dean Wood Lane, April 20, 1928 - May 19, 2021.
For all people there are two dates....
The day of birth that can bring cheers,
and the day of death that may bring tears.
What matters most of all is the dash between those years.

Dean W. Lane was born to Hurcial V. Lane and Ethel L. (Wood) Lane on
April 20, 1928, in Buhl, Idaho.  He was the only child born of this
union.  He was raised primarily by his grandparents, Mable and Ed
Davis.  When he was 14, he moved back to live with his mother, Ethel.

Dean was very intelligent.  He did very well in school, yet he felt he
was needed for a much greater cause.  World War II was in full swing.
His uncles, Stewart and Bob Davis, were serving in the Navy.  At 15
years of age, Dean approached his mother and asked her if he could join
the Navy.  A man could join the service at 17 years old as long as their
parents signed for them.  She shrugged her shoulders and said, “Yes.” 
The next week, he asked his mother to meet him at the recruiting office
to sign the papers.  She altered his birth certificate, met him at the
office and signed him over to the Navy.  This was less than two months
after his 15th birthday.  He quickly achieved the rank of Radioman 3rd
Class.

A commander happened to be on the ship that Dean was assigned to. Being
a cheeky young man, he approached Commander Parsons and told him that he
really enjoyed the book that he had written. Commander Parsons said,
“You read my book?”  “Yes sir, twice,” replied Dean.  Commander Parsons
said, “So that’s where the other copy went.”  Commander Parsons had
written the book, The Lafayette Escadrille, a book about being a fighter
pilot in France during World War I.  Dean devoured every book about war
that he could get his hands on.  A couple of days later, Commander
Parsons invited Dean to his quarters and poured him his first shot of
whiskey.  He asked Dean if he wanted to be a radioman oh his flag ship,
which is a very big honor.  Of course, he said YES!  On April 15, 1946,
after the war had ended, Dean was honorably discharged from the Navy, 5
days shy of his 18th birthday.  Dean went on to finish his delayed high
school education.

In 1947, 19 year-old Dean received his private pilot’s license through
Northwest Flying Services in Boise Idaho, earning the title of Chief
Pilot.  In that same year, he was hired by the Federal Aviation
Administration as an air traffic controller.

In 1948, Dean met Elizabeth Knight.  They fell in love and married on
February 14, 1949.  Their marriage produced 5 children.

Dean loved his job.  He moved quickly up the ladder, becoming the
youngest man in each position to hold that position.  At one point, he
was offered a prestigious position in Washington D.C. Although he would
have loved that position, he chose not to take it, because his children
had lived in quiet, safe places and he knew that they would not thrive
in a big city.  He was insistent on providing the very best environment
for his children.  His final position in the FAA was Chief of the
Seattle Flight Service Station.  He retired at age 55, completing 40
years of government service.

Dean and Elizabeth divorced in 1983, having been married 36 years.  A
few years later, he met and fell in love with Judy Foster.  In April of
1989, they married and enjoyed 30 years together until Judy passed in
2017.  Judy has two children, Kevin Foster and Kristin Hayes.

If we could describe Dean in only a few words, they would be, a
storyteller, jokester, hard-working, brilliant, charming, wonderful
father and grandfather, ornery and very devoted.  He lived life to the
fullest and was not afraid to show the world who he really was.  Some of
his favorite activities included enjoying family, fishing, woodworking,
reading, pinochle and loving his dogs.  He always found great joy in
flying a plane, his guns, driving his car and smoking his pipe.  He had
many things to be proud of in his lifetime, but he was most proud of his
service to his country and his family.

We want to say a hearty goodbye to Dean W. Lane, husband, father,
grandfather and a true American Hero.  You were such a special person to
so many people.  Your legacy will live on in all of the beautiful
memories you made for us.  We will be forever richer because of knowing
you.  We will always love and remember you.

Dean is survived by four of his five children: Anna Devereaux (Terry),
Mary Lane, Barbara Lane (Greg) and Lisa Burns (Darrell) and
stepchildren, Kevin Foster and Kristin Hayes.  He is predeceased by his
wife, Judy (Peterson) Lane; ex-wife, Elizabeth (Knight) Lane; son, Terry
Douglas Lane; and grandson, Ben Brimer.

Dean’s grandchildren are as follows: Michele Barker (Colin), Mike Lane,
Mark Lane, Alisha Huntsman, Dean Devereaux (Katrina), Elizabeth
Zimmerman (Justin), Amy Mittelstaedt (Gabe), Johnathan Morris (Rea),
Dustin Morris (Emily), Kerry Escobedo (Johnny), Ben Brimer (Dec),
Zachary Burns (Chelsea), Breanna Scharf (Josh), Crystal Weston (Vance),
Jared Burns, Konnor Hayes and Kameron Hayes.

Dean’s great-grandchildren are as follows, Josh Barker, Jake Barker,
Jeremy Barker, Heaton Lane, Peri Lane, Sarah Huntsman, Gabe Huntsman,
Karsen Devereaux, Seaver Devereaux, Teague Devereaux, Sam Zimmerman, Max
Zimmerman, Andrew Zimmerman, Brooke Mittelstaedt, Micah Mittelstaedt,
Michael Lee, Marlee Morris, Ryker Morris, Paige Sorenson, Coleton
Escobedo, Johnny Escobedo, Franklin Escobedo, Camber Scharf and Caden
Scharf.  Baby Weston is yet to be born.

Services are as follows:
Date:   Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Nampa Funeral  Home
415 12th Ave S, Nampa ID 83651

VIEWING: 10:00 am to 10:45 am
FUNERAL: 11:00 am to  12:00 pm

MILITARY HONORS:  1:45 pm
Idaho State Veterans Cemetery:
10100 N Horseshoe Bend Rd, Boise, ID 83714

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dean Wood Lane, please visit our floral store.