George DeBow

I was born May 2, 1925, in Chadron, Nebraska, to my loving parents, William and Nina (Lester) DeBow. They gave me the name George William DeBow after my grandfather George DeBow and my dad William.

Before I was a year old, my parents moved from Osage, Wyoming to Lead, South Dakota where my father worked for the Homestake Mining Company for the next 25 years. I am very thankful for the wonderful educational opportunities given me from my first days in kindergarten through high school in the Lead Public Schools.

On December 7, 1941, the life goals for many of us changed abruptly. After graduating from high school in 1943, I joined millions of others serving my country, both here and overseas in the CBI until April 1946. The GI Bill afforded me the opportunity to attend Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where I met my dear wife-to-be Gertrude Augusta Erdmann. As we both earned our Bachelor of Arts degrees, we were married August 24, 1947 in Ferney, South Dakota. I may have been an only child, but I married the youngest of 10. We were blessed with the birth of four children; Marc William (Holly) DeBow, Michael John (Mary Alice) DeBow, Matthew Kevin (Janet Rae) DeBow, and Nina Anne (Chuck) Darrington.

After teaching science and mathematics and coaching in Sisseton and Lead, South Dakota, as a family we moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where I completed my Master of Arts and Professional Diploma beyond the Masters in educational administration. I then served for 24 years as a teacher and administrator in South Dakota and Nebraska.

We adopted two girls as part of our family, Kathie (Doug) Gillard and Carmie (Mike) Johnson. We have from the family marriages 15 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Both my wife and I taught and administered in public education our entire professional lives. We loved camping with our family, fishing, hunting and traveling.

My wife and I and our children were all baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

I am thankful for this life I have had and appreciate all that I experienced along the way. It's been a wonderful journey.

Goodbye! Dad

Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Staples, MN.
No memorials or flowers are desired.

It is my wish that there be private graveside rites only with the family and with military honors included.