Tilmon Gregg Obituary (1935 - 2026)

Tilmon Dean Gregg, son of Tilmon and Grace, was born May 1, 1935 in Tenstrike, Minnesota. Family and friends called him Dean throughout his life. Dean had five siblings, Judy, Jane, Mary Ellen, Dennis, and Sydney, all of whom predeceased him. Dean’s father Tilmon was a logger, and moved the family to Montana in order to work the Big Sky area outside of Bozeman. Dean graduated from Gallatin County High School, class of 1952 in Bozeman and in June of 1953, he enlisted in the United States Army. After basic training he was assigned to the Yakima Firing Range in Yakima WA, where he served as an army medic. Dean was honorably discharged from the Army in May of 1956. In February of 1956 Dean married his high school sweetheart Darlene (Dolly) Tack in Yakima. Dean and Dolly would go on to have four children; Michael, Mark, Andrea and Rachael. Over the years, Dean and Dolly lived in several places including Yakima WA, Missoula, Bozeman and Billings MT (where Dean worked for Conoco Oil) before planting roots in Southern California after Dean joined the United States Border Patrol in 1966. After graduating from the 85th Session of the Border Patrol Academy, Dean was stationed in the Patrol’s San Diego Sector where, with the exception of three-years duty in Malone NY, he would serve for the remainder of his career. Dean retired from the Patrol as the Patrol Agent in Charge of the Sector’s Chula Vista Station in 1986. Dean and Dolly remained in the San Diego area until 2000 when they relocated to Cedar City UT, a favorite stop on the way to visit family in Bozeman over the years. Dean loved the peace and tranquility of the outdoors and spent many hours walking daily in the foothills west of Cedar City. Both Dean and Dolly were Christ the King Catholic Church Thrift Store volunteers, lending a helping hand with store donations and pick-ups. Dean’s beloved wife Dolly passed away in September, 2024 after sixty eight years of marriage. In addition to their four children, they are survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.