Edward "Dean" Bickford

Edward “Dean” Bickford, age 81, of Emmett, Idaho passed away at home on March 17, 2025.  Dean was born March 20, 1943 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma to Alvin Bickford and Brookxie Bickford Engelka.  He was the third of five children.

When Dean was five years old, his family migrated to Veneta, Oregon where his father purchased 5 acres of timberland.  Each day the boys were assigned a tree to chop down and clear.  They built a home there where boys lived in a trailer outside of the home until it was finished.  Dean’s father left the family when he was 16, which caused many hardships for his family.  His mother later moved to Southern California where Dean followed when he was 20. 

He met the love of his life, Sandra Lee Roos, in October, 1963 and married her 3 months later on January 10, 1964.  They moved their family to Boise, Idaho so he could learn the sign business from his father-in-law, Gus Roos.  Dean worked 20 years for sign companies and then in 1985, he started his own sign business in his garage.  He grew this business to include every kind of signs in the Boise valley.  He sold his business in 2007 and then moved to his cabin in Lowman, Idaho.  He rebuilt the cabin to a beautiful home.  During that time Dean made friends at every stop between Boise and Lowman.  His illness brought him to Emmett, Idaho in 2017.  Dean was a friendly, outgoing person who never met a stranger and made many long-term friendships.

Family was always at the center of Dean’s life.  He took great pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.  Dean was an incredible artist. You couldn’t sit down with Dean without him drawing something -if even on the back of a napkin.  His hobbies included drawing pictures of everyone and their animals; wood working; fishing and camping.

Dean is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sandra Lee, his children and their spouses: Jeffrey Bickford (Dani); Linda Howard; Kelly Bickford (Jose); his 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his brother, Benny Bickford, Nampa.  Dean is preceded in death by both his parents; his son, Christopher Dean; his brother, Richard Bickford; and his sisters, Judy Young and Dorothy Bickford.

Dean’s service will be held on Thursday, March 20 at 11am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 980 W. Central Road, Emmett, ID.

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