Dean Shaw

​Dean Emery Shaw, 62, of Bismarck, ND, passed away on June 30, 2022, after a long and courageous fight with cancer.

A funeral service will take place on Friday, July 8, 2022, at 10:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Mandan with Pastor Deanna Reikow presiding.  Visitation will be one hour prior the service.

Dean was born August 19, 1959, to Bevan Nichols Shaw and Phyllis Marcella Emery Shaw in Mandan, ND.  At the tender age of 2 he moved with his parents and siblings to Williston, ND.  His childhood was spent roaming the rural hills and ravines next to the Missouri River where his father was superintendent to the City Water Plant, and where they lived.  He loved to explore the many natural curiosities with his favorite dog nearby.  Dean attended the local public schools and graduated from Williston High School in 1978. From there he went on to study Civil Engineering at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Go Bison!

After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, Dean moved to Seattle, WA.  His time and travels while in the Pacific Northwest initiated  a lifelong affection for the area.  He worked in the field on large construction projects for an engineering firm for a while, but eventually decided he missed family and friends back home and moved to the Mandan/Bismarck area.

Dean went on to enjoy success at his chosen career in North Dakota.  He eventually started as a technician with Midwest Testing (now known as Terracon), kickstarting a 31 -year career with the company.  He especially liked traveling around the state to visit job sites for a variety of interesting civil and commercial projects.

In 2021, Dean retired and spent his time doing many of his lifelong favorite things: Photography; traveling to US National parks, rock collecting; following his favorite sports teams, NDSU Bison football and the Minnesota Twins, Timberwolves, and Vikings; studying maps (oh, how he loved his maps); reading science fiction (his shelves overflowed with Star Wars and Star Trek); and last but far from least spending as much time as possible with his beloved siblings, nephew and nieces, aunts and uncles, and cousins.

Dean was predeceased by his grandparents LaRue & Alice Shaw and Orville & Clara Emery, his parents Bevan & Phyllis Shaw, and his brother-in-law Rob Deering. He is survived by his brother Brian Shaw (Barb) and their son Theodore/Teddy, his sisters Gail Shaw, Marilyn Deering and her daughters Emily & Erin, Trissa Ford (Todd) and their daughters Amanda & Rachel, and Amanda’s husband Mike DeGreef (when Mike visited the ICU, Dean smiled and said, “It’s Mikey!”).

Memorials are preferred to Friends of NDGS Paleontology. https://ndpaleofriends.org/