Dean Nelson Pearson was born on March 5, 1931, at home in Mink Creek, Idaho. He was born to Perry and Hannah Pearson, the eighth of nine children; older siblings ---Carmen, Douglas, Cecil, Thora, Roy, Ray (twin of Roy who died shortly after birth), Thelma---and younger sister Colleen. He was raised in a humble three-room home that was built by his father.
Dean started school at the age of six in a little yellow schoolhouse in upper Mink Creek.
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While Dean was in the tenth grade, his father passed away. Two years later, Dean graduated from Preston High School in 1949 and started BYU that September.
Dean was called to serve in the Southwest Indian LDS Mission, which was headquartered in Gallup, New Mexico.
Three months after returning from his mission in 1953, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He served for two years, being sent first to Fort Ord, California, and then to Fort Benning, Georgia.
Dean returned to BYU following his honorable discharge where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Education and History. He then continued at BYU and completed a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology and Psychology.
After his master's program, Dean was employed by the South Sanpete School District for two years, where he taught English and History and was the school counselor at Manti High School.
Dean again returned to BYU to obtain a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Psychology. While working on this degree, he also had an assistantship teaching study skills classes.
On June 10, 1964, Dean married Rebecca Hawkes.
Dean finished his doctoral studies at BYU and then became employed as Director of Counseling at the College of Southern Utah (now SUU). During this time, Dean represented Utah for three years as an ACT Corporation member, did ACT research, ran the testing program, and started the CLEP program. In the summer of 1966, he completed post-graduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle. He finally finished his dissertation and was awarded a Ph.D. from BYU in 1973.
By this time, Dean was a father to four children --- Robert, Alan, Holly, and Janet--and would later add Suzanne, Mary Lynne, and Kristin.
In 1973, Dean resigned from the college and began working as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist for Southwest Utah Mental Health. He served as chief psychologist for five counties. His work included extensive involvement with schools and the juvenile court system in southwestern Utah. He was the "Designated Examiner" for the Utah State Division of Mental Health and was chairman of the Peer Review Committee. In the fall of 1984, he was a guest presenter in Chicago to share his paper on Dissociative Identity Disorder. He retired from Southwest Utah Mental Health in 2000.
Dean has always been very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He has had many callings including High Councilor, Bishopric Counselor, Bishop, and St. George Temple Ordinance Worker.
Dean is currently beloved husband of one; father/father-in-law of 14: Robert & Mary C. Pearson, Alan & Mary B. Pearson, Holly & Steve Jolley, Janet & Brian Chamberlain, Suzanne & Lee Roundy, Mary Lynne & Nathan Miller, and Kristin & Preston Porter; and grandfather of 24--soon to be 26.
In addition to his family, church, and work responsibilities, on the side, he found time to develop interest and skills as a boat builder, rock layer, fisherman, cement worker, hunter, car-body repairman, harmonica player, dune buggy and home remodeler, carpenter, motorcyclist, shelf builder, architect, author, electrician, woodcutter, baker, mountain explorer, gardener, tile setter, all-around fix-it fellow, inventor (of unique wheat grinder, personalized solar heating system, etc.), traveler
and friend.
