S. Dean Hatch

Shirley Dean Hatch was born September 7, 1932 in a two-room log-cabin in Victor, Teton County, Idaho. He was the oldest of three children born to Dean Joseph Hatch and Ella May Grover Hatch. Two years later, Norene was also born in the cabin. Ruth was born 11 years after Shirley in the new home in Victor. He attended grade school through the 8th grade in Victor. The school, where his parents had also attended, burned down when he was in the 2nd grade and the next years were in various locations until the new one was built. For high school he travelled by bus eight miles to Teton High School in Driggs. He graduated Class of 1950. In the summers, he worked at various places in "The Valley", beginning with Horace & Frieda Kearsleys. He nearly lost his life when he fell from a Ford tractor in front of the hay rick, which stopped miraculously inches from where he landed. He also worked at a service station in Moran, Wyoming and in Teton National Park, where he drove a truck. He travelled back to Victor on Saturday nights for the RDM dances at the Stake Center. In 1950, he began attending Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. While at Ricks, he helped some other young men put a cow, some chickens, and bales of hay into the upstairs "old" library. This feat became legend. And anyone who has worked with cows can tell you, as he did his children, "You can push a cow upstairs, but you cant get it to go down." In 1952 he entered the army, with basic training in San Louis Obispo, California. He served two years during the Korean conflict, primarily stationed in Tagu, S. Korea. He remembered well a weekend when soldiers lined up to catch one of two flights for leave in Tokyo. A commander told him to leave the line he was in, and join another. The flight he would have been on "went down in the drink", whereas his new assignment arrived safely. Upon his release, he returned to Ricks. In one of his classes, he sat behind Marilyn Miller from Malta, Idaho. The first time she turned around, he winked at her. It wasnt long before they began dating. That same year he accepted a mission call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve in the East Central States Mission headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, from May of 1955-May 1957. Returning from his mission, he and Marilyn were married July 12, 1957 in the Logan Temple. He has said, "She is the greatest thing in my life." They had nine children, Terry Ann, Oct. 25, 1958, Susan, Oct. 22, 1960, Jana Mae, Jan.5, 1962, Stanley Dean January 26, 1963, Richard Miller July 28, 1965, Amy Jo Aug. 11, 1966, Marilee Dec. 11, 1967, Nanette Sept. 28, 1969, and Shirley DeAn Dec. 12, 1974. Terry was born in Driggs and then they moved to Pocatello in May of 1959, where they lived in a basement apartment until after Jana was born. They raised their family at 328 Stansbury, Pocatello, Idaho, a house with a white picket fence on a tree lined street that had a park nestled into its side. Their home was a tight fitupstairs four sisters shared a room for a while. And everyone shared the one full bath. Doing dishes for eleven people, without a dishwasher, was a nightly chore. He taught his children to rinse in the hottest water possible. But after the dishes were done, if anyone decided theyd like to make fudge, he was on hand to beat it with the wooden spoon. The same spoon that might be used if the paddle turned up missing. His children all knew the phrase, "grab your ankles." Every day began and ended with family prayer, and every Sunday they attended church together, first at the 12th Ward, then when wards realigned boundaries, the 6th Warda building on the far side of ISU campus. Church was a central part of his life. Dean served in six bishoprics, including as Bishop, High Councilman, temple officiator, and various other leadership and teaching callings. He loved music and sang in choirs, as well as directed music on the ward and stake level. And he encouraged his children to play musical instruments. Dean worked at Van Gas and Cream Top Dairy before going to work at Simplots Gay Mine of Fort Hall as a clerk. He worked there another 29 years until it closed. His family was taught early the strategies of Rook and to watch out for his ploys, such as when he would affect to scratch his belly, but actually was signaling his partner with an upraised thumb to bid higher. As sons and daughters-in-law joined the family, they soon learned what they called "Hatch Rules." No matter what the game, Dean always approached it with enthusiasm and the conviction his team was going to slaughter the other, though the record of wins and losses was fairly even. Similar to "Hatch Rules," there were the doctrines his children came to refer to as being from the "Book of Hatch." Cross referencing was advisable. Dean enjoyed a good doctrinal discussion--even when it strayed. Upon retirement, Dean and Marilyn accepted a mission call to the Connecticut Hartford Mission from May 1994 - November 1995. In 1997 they sold their home and helped build the "lodge" in Victor where they lived until 2004. The lodge had three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms upstairs, and several bedrooms on the main with dorm-style bathrooms for boys and girls. Their expanding family gathered there during the holidays, either Thanksgiving, or Christmas and on the 4th of July. The fireworks displays were known throughout the town. While at the lodge, they cared for Grandmother Miller until she passed. From Dec. 2004-June 2006 Dean and Marilyn served a second mission to the Philippines, where he was known as Elder Happy. An example of his generosity, was when he bought a "tri-cycle"a motorized vehiclefor a local memberthus providing them with a means of income. He was known to give others what they needed, if he had it on hand, though the budget was not consulted. He once said the Lord made him a poor man, because he wasnt a good steward of money. But his family never went hungry or without clothes. And they could always make room at the table for a visitor. Following their 2nd mission, they bought their current home in Pocatello. Dean and Marilyn loved to open their home to have others come to dinner or dessert and stay to play a game. He filled his homes with the pictures of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved to tell visitors about his children, pointing to their picture on the wall. His greatest joys were his family, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and serving others. Shirley Dean Hatch passed peacefully from this life November 22, 2020 to begin his next assignment. He was preceded in death by his sister, Noreen H. Roberts and sons-in-law Robert Parkinson, and Cliff Sorensen. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his sister Ruth Wood, his children Terry (Les) Holden, Susan (Mark) Dayley, Jana Bellinger and Matthew Anderson, Stanley (Cathy) Hatch, Richard (Tami) Hatch, Amy (Brent) Burton, Marilee Parkinson, Nanette (Destry) Pollard, Shirley DeAn (Craig) Reynolds, 43 grand children and 23 great-grandchildren, with 2 "on the way." Private services will be held. A webcast will be available to view on Friday, November 27 at 11 am by clicking on the link here http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/41302