DEAN and LILLIAN HUNT

    The story of the Dean W. Hunt family is a short one, as many of our roots are the first generation in this country. Dean is the youngest son born to Alonzo William and Rosa Estella (Burr) Hunt on Feb. 20, 1928. His brothers are Marvin A. of Imogene, Verle J. of Marshalltown, and Donald B. of Red Oak. They were all born south of the Climax Church in West Twp. of Montgomery Co., Iowa. Roots of the Hunts have been traced to Butler Co., Ohio and a distant relative of Dean's, (Isaac Hunt) was the first minister in West Twp., Mont. Co.

    Gustave and Beda (Reed) Nelson, having to work many years to repay their passage, emigrated from Smaland, a province in Sweden, as teenagers. Gustave E. Nelson (Gustaf Nilsson) was one of eleven children born in Sweden. Although Gustave and Beda did not know each other they lived only six miles apart in Sweden and met in Red Oak. Beda (Ryd) Reed (d. 1972) was one of six children, three of whom came to the United States. Beda lived and worked in Chicago and Evanston, Ill. and in Benton Harbor, Michigan before coming to Red Oak as a Salvation Army Officer. Beda and Gustave were parents of two children. Lillian Elizabeth Nelson (Hunt) was born Jan. 22, 1930 in Grove Twp., Pott. Co., north of the old Kemling Store. The family moved to Lincoln Twp., Mont. Co. for a number of years, then back to Wav. Twp., Pott. Co. Paul G. Nelson was born Sept. 10, 1935 in the Murphy Memorial Hospital, Red Oak. Paul graduated from Elliott Consolidated Schools and attended Augustana at Moline, Ill., and Los Angeles Art Center School. He lived in Sweden for six years, working in design and art. He married Ruth Reiskyll of Racine, Wis. and they reside in Milwaukee, the parents of six children.

    Dean Hunt graduated from Red Oak High School in 1945 and attended Iowa State College.  Lillian graduated from R. O. H. S. in 1947, attended R. O. Junior College and Immanuel School of Nursing in Omaha. She has been employed at R. O. Hospital and Martens Manor in Griswold.

    We are parents of two children, Linda Christine was born Sept. 27, 1950, attended Elliott grade school, graduated from Griswold 1968, and graduated from Iowa State University in 1972 with B. A. degree in Applied Art. She worked and traveled several years as an interior designer and is now living and working in Chicago, Ill.

    William Dean Hunt was born Dec. 16, 1952 in Red Oak, attended Elliott Grade School, graduated Griswold 1971, and graduated I. S. U. 1977 with a B. S. degree in Ag. Business. He married Diane Paup in 1976, is now farming in Mont. Co. and Pott Co., and is living in Waveland Twp. Linda and Bill were active in music and were members of the Sherman Twp.  4-H clubs. Both were exhibitors at the Iowa State Fair and Aksarben.

    Dean has been president of the Pott. Livestock Feeders and still serves on the board, served on the Elliott and Griswold School Boards, charter member of the Nishna Valley Gun Club, 4-H leader in Mont. Co. 12 years, serving on Bethlehem Lutheran Church Board, served as Sunday School Supt., was an avid tractor puller of both farm stock and mini-hot rods. He served 20 consecutive years on the Farm Bureau Board having held many offices, and he was the Co. Farm Bureau President 1972-1974.  He is a Wav. Twp. Trustee, recently elected to serve on the Extension Council and as a SCS Soil Commissioner. Dean is now an Aksarben Ambassador. He received his Realtors license in 1978.

    Lillian, also, is active in Farm Bureau, served as Sec. to the men's board and as Co. Women's Chairmen and currently as a member of women's board. She has been 4-H leader for six years, is Church cirle leader and is Chairman of Federated Research Club of Elliott. She works parttime as a nurse and attends classes in continuing education in nursing. She enjoys music, reading, needlework and care of yard and flowers.

    The whole family belongs to and participates in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Red Oak.