Dean A. Rhoads was born October 5, 1935, in Tonasket, WA, to Clyde and Mamie Rhoads. He was the youngest of 3 siblings. He grew up in the Tonasket area where his family was involved in the apple orchard business. He graduated from high school there. As a youngster, Dean developed a love for rodeo which eventually took him to CalPoly-San Luis Obispo. It would take him 8 years, and several times of quitting school to go back home and earn enough money to return to college, before he eventually received a bachelor of science in Ag Business Management. An interest in serving others budded at college where he held leadership positions within the rodeo club. Dean lived a full and genuine Nevada life and throughout it all accomplished many things with true grace.
While at Cal Poly, the path of shy, handsome Dean happened to cross that of Sharon Packer who was also going to school there. They fell in love, and in 1964, married.
After marrying Sharon, he became the manager of the Visalia Livestock Auction Yard, a position he held for two years while waiting for Sharon to graduate from college. There he developed an interest in marketing cattle.
In 1966, they left CA to join the ranching operation of Sharon’s parents near Tuscarora, NV. That was home for the rest of his life. Soon after moving to Tuscarora he joined the Elko County Fairboard. While on the Fairboard, Dean devised the hot iron branding contest as a way to commemorate America’s bicentennial. In 1976, the first hot iron branding contest was held at the fair - a tradition that continues to this day and has been replicated throughout the west.
Becoming involved in the Cattlemen’s Association was for him a natural extension of ranching. He always had a desire to improve current situations. One of his first “projects” was to redefine the grazing fee formula being proposed at that time. Dean felt it was exhorbitant, totally unacceptable, and would put most family operations out of business. Through much negotiation, both over the phone in “conference calls”, and face to face with other western livestock people, many trips to Washington DC to negotiate with members of Congress, a new plan was hatched. It wasn’t without much opposition, but through continued negotiation, the current grazing fee formula was put into law. During that process, Dean talked personally with then President Reagan on the phone. While no one likes grazing fees, Dean always maintained the current formula is much fairer than what was originally proposed. That was one of Dean’s proudest accomplishments and served to launch his political career.
After being appointed to the Elko County Fair Board, he desired to do more for Elko County and wanted to run for county commissioner. When he announced this to several friends, they told him that wasn’t the office for him. Instead, they encouraged him to run for the NV State Assembly. In 1976, this quiet spoken, apple boy turned rancher became Assemblyman Rhoads.
Following six years in the Assembly, and un unsuccessful bid for a seat in Congress, Dean was elected to the Nevada State Senate in 1984. As a State Senator, Dean represented at one time or another the residents of all or part of nine of Nevada’s seventeen counties. Dean’s rural NV senatorial district was the largest state legislative district in America, excluding Alaska. In fact, his legislative district was larger in geographical size than 34 of the 50 states, including states like New York, Illinois, and Florida. He served in this senatorial position for the next 28 years under 6 different governors.
Dad had a quiet way about him that aided him in getting bills pushed through the Nevada Legislature to benefit rural Nevada. He was instrumental in the development of the South Fork Dam, development of the Northern Nevada Community College (now known as Great Basin College) as well as GBC’s continued growth, the California Trail Interpretive Center, not to mention the support he gave a myriad of other issues that weren’t in the limelight. It was common for complete strangers to tell Dean how something he had supported had significantly helped that person in one way or another.
Dean’s resolute voice frequently reminded us there were no barriers when people work together. Dad loved following politics and enjoyed the evening state and national news as late as the last week of his life. He was as passionate about the ranching industry as he was about creating a better world for rural Nevadans.
Although the outside world knew Dean for his professionalism as a public servant, his family knew him differently. His ongoing dry humor could lighten any moment, and while he could be a softy, you didn’t want to disappoint him. He was an eternal optimist who always strove to see the bright side of any circumstance.
True to the vows taken in 1964, he and Sharon weathered life’s storms and had celebrated 54 years of marriage in January. That marriage produced 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. While committed to public service much of his life, he was most passionate about his family. He could be counted on to lend an empathetic ear to a family member’s current problem, and would share a quiet piece of wisdom if asked. He was also willing to help someone when needed. Most that knew Dean would say he was a true gentlemen and a forever friend.
Dean was a member of several clubs and organizations including The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, The National Cattlemen’s Association, Rotary, Republican Committee, as well as a proud supporter of Elko County 4H youth and high school and state rodeo clubs, Silver State Stampede, and the Elko County Fair.
On April 23, 2018, Dean Rhoads - husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, rancher, and long time public servant died at home of complications related to Parkinson’s Disease while surrounded by family.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents Clyde and Mamie Rhoads, his brothers - Dale and Rex, and sister Donna. He is survived by his wife Sharon of 54 years, his daughter Shammy (Cowboy), his daughter Chandra (Joe), grandchildren, Malachi (Shelbi), Telden, Rachel, Willis, Mamie, two great grandchildren Wylin and Billi, his sister-in-law Ginny, and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on May 3 at 11:00 in the Elko Convention Center, Elko NV.
Contributions may be made in Dean’s memory to the Elko County Fairboard to be used for a perpetual award in the Fair’s Branding Contest, PO Box 2067, Elko, NV 89803.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burns Funeral Home Elko, NV. The family would like to thank his many devoted professionals of his medical team over the last few years of his life.
