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Dean Edward Yongue

Dean Edward Yongue passed away on Feb. 13, 2019, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was born to Brig and Cele Yongue in Council, Idaho, on Aug. 26, 1942. He joined a brother, William Travis.

He moved with his family from the Midvale, Idaho, area to the Hemlocks in 1956, and later moved to Moyie Springs, Idaho. They spent their summers in the Yaak area while Brig was logging.

Dean graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1960 and from Idaho State University in 1967 with a BS in geology.

Dean married Margie Huff in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Jan. 31, 1965. His first job after college was for the Anaconda Company, at the Montana Con Mine in Butte, Mont. From there he went to the Pend Oreille Mine in Metaline Falls, Wash., from 1968 to 1978 as a geologist and surveyor. He then surveyed on the Hanford site, onto the Vanstone Mine at Northport, Wash., and later relocated to the Caladay Mine in Osburn, Idaho.

In 1982 Dean moved his family to Alaska, as he was employed by the Coronado Mining Co. on Hatcher Pass, first living in Willow, Alaska, and then in Wasilla, Alaska. He later worked at the Cambior Gold Mine on the Denali highway and for other small mining and surveying companies in Alaska during the 12 years they lived there.

Dean also had surveying licenses in Washington, Idaho and Alaska. While in Alaska, he surveyed several remote parcels and in areas such as Nome, Barrow and on the Kenai Peninsula.

In 1994 the family moved down to the “Lower 48” to Spokane, Wash., where he took a job as a surveyor for J. Paul Ramer & Assoc. They soon made their home in Blanchard, Idaho. Dean worked for several years for Glahe & Assoc. in Sandpoint, Idaho, and soon started his own surveying business, leaving his mark from north of Bonners Ferry to Metaline Falls to the Silver Valley and Newport, Wash., areas.

Dean enjoyed his family, fishing, river rafting, digging for crystals, panning for gold and entertaining families and groups with PowerPoint presentations.

He belonged to the Newport Rotary Club, Northwest Gold Prospectors, North Idaho Mineral Club and Pend Oreille Rock and Gem Club.

Dean leaves his wife, Margie at home; daughters, Kimberlee (Steve) Aldrich of Oregon, Deanne (Mike) Fitzgerald of Idaho and son, Dustin (Beth) Yongue of Washington and 7 grandchildren: Lynsey (Jerry), Travis (Hailey), Devin, Lexi, Liam, Darius and Breana along with 3 great-grandchildren and his brother, Bill.

A celebration of life will be held, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, with a small service after 3 p.m. at the Blanchard Grange, 36 Mason Road, Blanchard, ID 83804. You are welcome to bring your stories about Dean to share and your favorite dish for all to enjoy.

Please visit Dean’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.