Dean Kersten, age 74 of Kramer, died Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at a Fargo hospital.  A private family service will be held.  Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.

Dean Richard Kersten, a son of Kenneth and Lorrayne (Bristol) Kersten, was born on March 15, 1946 in Bottineau.  He grew up near Kramer and was baptized and confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church, where he remained a faithful member.  He graduated from Kramer High school and then attended the School of Forestry in Bottineau.  On November 30, 1964, he entered the US Army and served in Vietnam.  Dean received his honorable discharge on September 1, 1967.  He worked at the Boeing Factory in Washington State.  In 1968, he married Cynthia Froseth at the Zion Lutheran Church in Kramer.  They lived in Ft. Wayne, IN where Dean worked for the Brick Layers Union.  They returned to Kramer in 1974 when he began farming with his father and brother, Rodney.  They later moved onto the Bullinger Farm.  He was a farm boy at heart and was able to successfully live out his passion for farming which he passed onto his sons, Daniel and John.  Dean and Cynthia were divorced in 1988.  In 2005, he married JoAnne Sanderson at the Zion Lutheran Church in Kramer.  Dean retired from farming 2016.

Dean member of the American Legion and the VFW He also served on the Kramer School Board, the Kramer Fire Dept and the Elysian Township Board.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing and helping John on the farm after his retirement.  He especially loved deer hunting season with his boys and friends.  Dean would get up in the morning, look out the window at the sunrise and say "It doesn't get much better than this."  He never had a daughter but was blessed with 8 granddaughters who he nicknamed and dearly loved to tease. Dean had his own nicknames in the Kramer Community. "Rambo" and "Light it and leave" we're just a few.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnne; sons, Daniel (Heidi) Kersten of Kramer, John (Kristin) Kersten of Kramer and Thomas (Jenny) Kersten of Chanhassen, MN; grandchildren, Dylan Kersten, Juliana Kersten, Savannah Kersten, Sidney Kersten, Kaitlyn Kersten, Lillian Kersten, Emily Kersten, Vivianne Kersten and Lilah Kersten;  step-children, Chris (Michael) Brown of Bottineau, Paul (Heather) Sanderson of Bismarck and Rob Sanderson of Bismarck; step-grandchildren, Payton Wilhelm, Tyson Wilhelm, Barret Brown, Claire Brown, Paige Brown and Jack Sanderson; siblings, Karen Brown of Bottineau, Rodney (Faye) Kersten of Kramer, Brian (Janice) Kersten of Max and Kim (Steve) Reing of Minot; Mother-in-law Mime Westcott of Brandon, Manitoba; Brothers-in-law Rae(Joyce) Westcott of Tsawwassen, British Columbia and Ron (Flora) Westcott of Winnipeg, Manitoba; several nieces and nephews as well as several great nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and grandparents, Dean was preceded in death by his brother, Virgil Kersten; nephew, Robert Block and great nephew, Cody Block.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Zion Luther Church or Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Kramer.

A celebration of Dean's life will be held next summer.

Arrangement were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net .  His funeral will be live streamed on the Bethlehem/St. John Lutheran Church facebook page on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 2:00 pm