Weatherman, PUD Commissioner Dean Dahlin Dies

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It’s a rainy, gloomy week in the Twin Cities. The familiar voice behind, “Good morning folks,” has passed away.

Lewis County social media was filled with remembrances this week from people who knew longtime KELA/KMNT weatherman Dean Dahlin, along with those who knew him primarily as a friendly voice on their radio. Listeners of the radio shows heard Dahlin’s forecasts every morning, noon and afternoon for 35 years.

Dahlin died this past Sunday after a short illness at the age of 68. He had just celebrated his 15-year anniversary with his wife Nicky. Three weeks ago he was still on air, broadcasting his weather forecast punctuated with a lively on-air personality. He returned for a few days after being off the air, but went back into the hospital where he died.

“Three weeks ago he was fine, laughing in my office,” said Larry Minor, general manager at KELA and sister station KMNT.

Dahlin was hired in 1984 as a meteorologist for the stations, a bonus for local radio stations at the time which did not usually have a localized weather report.

“Over the years he became quite a personality, not only on the radio station, but in the community,” Minor said. “I think his honest approach to everything he did was really well received. He really became quite accurate with his localized weather report for this area.”

Minor said Dahlin had a “down-home approach” to life, and as with all top weathermen, Dahlin would admit on air when he got his forecast wrong. Minor said Dahlin will be missed by the community, and especially from his coworkers.

“When you work with someone for 35 years, they become family members as much as coworkers,” Minor said. “At KELA — all the staff — we feel we lost a family member.”



One such colleague is Steve Richert, who worked with Dahlin at the radio station until Richert retired in 2013.

“He was fun to talk with and had a great sense of humor,” Richert said. “He had a very friendly persona — a likeable guy — always had something to say, always kind and generous, and he was an important part of our programming.”

Richert said Dahlin had a number of catch phrases. Anyone who regularly listened would remember, “It’s gonna be hotter than a depot stove.” Richert said Dahlin had a satisfying career as a weatherman and train engineer.

“He loved working for the railroad and he loved being a weatherman,” Richert said. “His greatest loves beyond his family was his work. What a successful life for him.”

Dahlin’s main occupation was as a train engineer for Union Pacific, which he did for about four decades before retiring. Dahlin then served as a Lewis County PUD commissioner since 2013. “His passing was unexpected and our hearts and thoughts go out to the Dahlin family,” said PUD Manager Chris Roden. “He was a great leader in our organization and will be greatly missed.”

Roden said the PUD commission will likely consider its options for appointing a temporary commissioner at its regular meeting Tuesday. 

When running for his PUD seat, Dahlin told the Chronicle his experience forecasting the weather went hand-in-hand with the PUD. 

“Without the sun, we wouldn’t have solar or wind, and we wouldn’t have rain and snow for hydropower,” he said in 2012.