ELIASEN, Dean Craig-Derek (Age 74) Passed away Sept. 16, 2020. Spokane Cremation and Funeral Service, Spokane, WA

ELIASEN, Dean Craig Derek Dean had a peaceful passing on September 16, 2020, succumbing to heart failure. He was born to Don and Betty Eliasen on August 26, 1946. Dean attended Dishman Grade School and graduated from West Valley High School in 1964. He went on to attend the University of Washington and San Francisco Art Institute. Dean was a very talented artist; much of his work hangs in office buildings, restaurants and in the homes of many friends and relatives in Spokane and on the West coast. To support his art he also worked as a waiter at Spokane's finest restaurants, including many years at Luna. Dean was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. He is survived by sister, Debbie (Steve) Schumacher, nephew Ian (Tracy) Schumacher, their girls, Berkley and Neely, niece Malea (Josh) Cook, their children Deverie and Beckett, many cousins and many great friends both far and near. Debbie would like to extend her deepest thanks to Dr. Andrew Coletti and his team for the compassionate care they showed Dean in his final days. At his request, there will not be a memorial service, but instead, please enjoy some art in the near future and think of Dean.

Thanks to Ron Nelson who posted this on the West Valley FB site:

"Thursday evening, September 17, 2020, a very good life-time friend and neighbor of mine when growing up in Spokane Dean Eliasen, passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital. 

Dean (Derek to some) was a very talented artist.  He studied art at WSU, UW, San Francisco Art Institute, Seattle Art Institute, as well as art classes in Vancouver BC.  His creativity was boundless and besides that talent, he was good with people and a punster to end all punsters his entire life.  He was a trickster and mischievous.  I worked for Dean when I moved back to Spokane in the 70s after graduating from the UO and having had jobs in Sacramento and Monterey, CA and Eugene, OR.  Dean was managing Strobel's Restaurant at that time in Spokane, on Stevens St. and I was living at Liberty Lake and needed work and he hired me.  After a year or two, he traveled to Europe for about 6-8 months on a self-planned art history adventure gaining more knowledge in his art, and I then became the manager at Strobel's.  So, of course when he returned from his adventures and travels, he called me and said he needed to work again and that he would be my best employee.....of course he was!!  I will miss his punning and his dry wit.  I will miss his artful talents and methodology.  I will miss his stories and his interpretations of life and lovers.  Rest in peace dear friend, we all will miss you dearly today and forever!"