Dan Eugene Deaner

May 26, 1947 - January 10, 2019

Dan Eugene Deaner, 71, of Wibaux, Montana, was called home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on January 10, 2019. He died peacefully at home from complications of diabetes. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM of Friday, January 18, 2019 at the Wibaux Bible Church in Wibaux with James Miller officiating. Silha Funeral Home of Wibaux has been entrusted with the arrangements. Dan was born May 26, 1947, in Stillwater, Minnesota to Merlin and Wanda (Hall)Deaner. In his childhood and early teen years, Dan’s life goal was to move to Alaska and become a hermit. His plans were changed in February 1963, when he met Martha Wakeland at a sledding party hosted by McKinleyville Baptist Church in California. They began dating, and the rest is history. Dan and Martha were married September 7, 1968 and were blessed to celebrate their 50th anniversary last fall. Their marriage was richly blessed with the addition of three beautiful children: Shannon, Jeffrey, and Rebecca. Dan served in the United States Coast Guard Reserves during the Vietnam War era, stationed in Alameda, CA and was honorably discharged. He attended Humboldt State College in Arcata, CA and was a graduate of College of the Redwoods in Eureka, CA. Dan’s career of law enforcement began in 1972 as a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy in Eureka, CA. He seized an opportunity to move to Alaska in 1973 and was employed as an officer for Wrangell Police Department on Wrangell Island. He later transferred to the Alaska State Troopers, stationed in Anchorage and Juneau, and subsequently moved within the department to Fish & Wildlife Protection. In 1978, he relocated his family to Redding, CA and taught at Grace Baptist Schools for seven years. He returned to law enforcement as a Tehama County Sheriff’s deputy in Red Bluff where he worked until an on-the-job injury ended this career. He then pursued taxidermy, attending school in Missoula, MT. He fell in love with Montana and settled his family in Wibaux, where he set up his business, High Plains Taxidermy. Dan’s free time passions were gardening and hunting, especially waterfowl. He especially enjoyed sharing his produce, apples, and home-pressed cider. As an expert bird carver and taxidermist, his mounts and carvings are displayed by clientele from coast to coast throughout the United States. Dan accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at Bible camp when he was 10 years old. He loved the Lord all his life and was a staunch financial supporter of many ministries and missionaries throughout the world, including his daughter’s family in Alaska. He preferred tithing to missionaries to buying a new pair of shoes for himself. Dan is survived by his wife, Martha of Wibaux; his children, Shannon (James) Miller of Fairbanks, Alaska, Jeffrey (Semra) Deaner of Juneau, Alaska and Rebecca (Tom) Billman of Helena, Montana; his grandchildren, Dani, Rachel, Christa, Jared and Timothy Miller, Patrick, Dustin, Isaac and Chloe Billman and Caitlyn, Shelby, Sydney and Olivia Deaner and his sisters, Jamie (Dave) Watts and Jacque (Rocky) Bemis of Redding, CA. Dan was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Logan Billman. Burial will be on the Miller homeplace in Alaska. Memorial contributions may be made to Christian Worship Hour, PO Box 2002, Aberdeen, SD 57402 / ChristianWorshipHour.com. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.silhafuneralhomes.com