In school, Dennis was active in FFA and student body leadership and enjoyed choir and played the tuba. He graduated from Onalaska High School in 1960. After a brief time at Washington State College and Centralia Community College, he entered the United States Marine Corps in 1962. Dennis was honorably discharged as a sergeant (E-5) in January 1966.
Dennis joined the Tacoma Laborers Union Local 252 in 1966, beginning work at the Mossyrock Dam. His membership would last more than 50 years, and this work was what let the family grow up farming and ranching. He worked bridge deck repair projects and could tell you the history of bridges all over the state. He loved a good project and pouring concrete.
Dennis returned to Washington State College in 1967, recognizing a girl from Onalaska High School in his anthropology class. In November, he gave her a ride home for Thanksgiving break, and by the semester break, they were engaged. He married Julie Lester in June 1968 in Onalaska. They returned to WSC for another year to finish his degree and then made their home at Ethel. They sold the Camaro, bought a truck and started their own cattle herd. Their first four children were born during this time.
In 1979, they moved from the family farm to their own place in the Badger Pocket area of the Kittitas Valley. The farm was 700 acres, including sagebrush range and irrigated land. Here they raised cattle and timothy/alfalfa hay while they worked to improve the irrigation systems, built a house and barn, and welcomed two more children.
In 1994, after the Yakima Training Center expansion took most of the farm, Dennis moved the family to the ranch on the Kettle River in Ferry County. They continue to raise hay and built a Red Angus herd. Dennis built a barn and shop over the years and converted the irrigation to center pivots on most of the hay ground. Dennis also built a hoop house for Julie, and they produced raspberries, strawberries, peppers and tomatoes sold locally. Dennis loved his flowers, especially the dahlias.
Dennis enjoyed a good auction, going to farm, livestock and even storage auctions and bringing home all kinds of treasures. Selecting bulls for the Red Angus herd was especially fun for him. He studied catalogs and went to Leachman and Ludvigson auctions in Montana over the years.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents; sisters Loretta Schindler, Effie Olsen and Suzanna Hill; and brother-in-law Jack Aselton. He is survived by his wife, Julie, at home; his children, Ole (Melee), Anna (Jerry), Kate (David), Gus (Kate), Gunner and J.B. (Ashley); his sister, Donna Aselton; brother Ken Olsen; sister-in-law Gayla Guenther (David); a dozen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A military honors service for Dennis is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery – Medical Lake (21702 W. Espanola Road, Medical Lake, WA) with a reception following at the Tyler Grange (23905 S. B St., Cheney, WA).
