L. Dean Bartelson
August 21, 1950 — August 2, 2014
Lowell “Dean” Bartelson was born on August 21, 1950 to Calvin and Lois (Wiuff) Bartelson in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1961, his sister Nancy (Bartelson) Fredericksen joined the family. He attended Kirkman elementary school and graduated from Irwin-Kirkman High School with the class of 1968. He continued his education at Iowa State University and Clarinda College studying agriculture. In 1978, Jenny Saltrop joined the family as a foreign exchange student from Denmark and became Dean’s ‘sister’.
On July 26, 1980, Dean was united in marriage to Arleatta Plagman at Merrill’s Grove Baptist Church in Fiscus, Iowa. They became parents to three children: Christine, Matthew and Kari and home became his heart.
Dean began his farming career in high school, raising Duroc hogs, and then joined his father in farming the family farm. He was a member of Farm Bureau and held various offices in his tenure. In the early 1980’s, he started a trucking career hauling cattle. Then, in 1992, he started his own trucking company, Bar-T Trucking, growing it into a multiple truck company, changing the lives of the drivers who have worked for him over the years.
Dean spent his time with family, friends, and spoiling his two grandchildren, Connor and Britta. His love of music, although questionable at times, included playing the Alto Sax in the high school jazz band, singing in the Merrill’s Grove Baptist Church choir, and enjoying the kids’ piano recitals.
His love of racing took him to the winner circle at the Shelby County Speedway and found pure joy at the Richard Petty Racing Experience – not only breaking his own speed record but drafting with the big boys. The smile was on his face for weeks. Although not actively racing, he continued his love of the sport by restoring a nostalgia stock car.
The only time anyone can recall Dean going slow, was up and down the side of the San Juan mountains and switchbacks on vacations in Colorado. The times he spent with his friends and family there are remembered warmheartedly and with many smiles.
Dean continued his love of cars even after his racing days were over. He had bought his first Chevelle in 1968, as a teenager, using the money he earned raising Duroc hogs in high school. And his love continued when he purchased a 1969 Chevelle and enjoyed the time spent with family and friends on their many road trips.
It didn’t matter if Dean was at home or away, his heart was always with his family and friends. Whether he was auctioning pies to unsuspecting bidders, being the tour director for his friends or making the many phone calls to family and friends just to see how they were doing.
Dean died unexpectedly on Saturday, August 2, 2014, having attained the age of sixty-three years, eleven months, and twelve days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin and Lois Bartelson.
He is survived by his wife of thirty-four years, Arleatta Bartelson of Irwin, Iowa; children: Christine and her husband Marcus Upton of Johnston, Iowa, Matthew Bartelson and his wife Tina of Bellevue, Nebraska and Kari Bartelson of Chicago, Illinois; grandchildren, Connor Upton and Britta Bartelson; sisters Nancy and her husband Jim Fredericksen of West Des Moines, Iowa and Jenny Saltrop of Denmark; extended family and many friends. His life has made an impact on all who knew him and his act as an organ donor will affect the lives of people we will never know.
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On July 26, 1980, Dean was united in marriage to Arleatta Plagman at Merrill’s Grove Baptist Church in Fiscus, Iowa. They became parents to three children: Christine, Matthew and Kari and home became his heart.
Dean began his farming career in high school, raising Duroc hogs, and then joined his father in farming the family farm. He was a member of Farm Bureau and held various offices in his tenure. In the early 1980’s, he started a trucking career hauling cattle. Then, in 1992, he started his own trucking company, Bar-T Trucking, growing it into a multiple truck company, changing the lives of the drivers who have worked for him over the years.
Dean spent his time with family, friends, and spoiling his two grandchildren, Connor and Britta. His love of music, although questionable at times, included playing the Alto Sax in the high school jazz band, singing in the Merrill’s Grove Baptist Church choir, and enjoying the kids’ piano recitals.
His love of racing took him to the winner circle at the Shelby County Speedway and found pure joy at the Richard Petty Racing Experience – not only breaking his own speed record but drafting with the big boys. The smile was on his face for weeks. Although not actively racing, he continued his love of the sport by restoring a nostalgia stock car.
The only time anyone can recall Dean going slow, was up and down the side of the San Juan mountains and switchbacks on vacations in Colorado. The times he spent with his friends and family there are remembered warmheartedly and with many smiles.
Dean continued his love of cars even after his racing days were over. He had bought his first Chevelle in 1968, as a teenager, using the money he earned raising Duroc hogs in high school. And his love continued when he purchased a 1969 Chevelle and enjoyed the time spent with family and friends on their many road trips.
It didn’t matter if Dean was at home or away, his heart was always with his family and friends. Whether he was auctioning pies to unsuspecting bidders, being the tour director for his friends or making the many phone calls to family and friends just to see how they were doing.
Dean died unexpectedly on Saturday, August 2, 2014, having attained the age of sixty-three years, eleven months, and twelve days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin and Lois Bartelson.
He is survived by his wife of thirty-four years, Arleatta Bartelson of Irwin, Iowa; children: Christine and her husband Marcus Upton of Johnston, Iowa, Matthew Bartelson and his wife Tina of Bellevue, Nebraska and Kari Bartelson of Chicago, Illinois; grandchildren, Connor Upton and Britta Bartelson; sisters Nancy and her husband Jim Fredericksen of West Des Moines, Iowa and Jenny Saltrop of Denmark; extended family and many friends. His life has made an impact on all who knew him and his act as an organ donor will affect the lives of people we will never know.
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