“The Left Handed Accordionist”
Dean Russell Wentworth, age 86, of Cambridge, MN died Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at GracePointe Crossing Gables East.He was born in Bradford Township on November 14, 1929 to Robert and Jennie (Harrington) Wentworth. He married Rosalin Ahrens on June 2, 1951 and to this union six children were born.
Dean grew up in a musical family. He started playing in the family band when he was five years old. He later went on to win the state music tournament in the 1940’s. He then traveled to compete in NYC at the national level and won the competition on The Ted Mack Show with the accordion. He went on to perform in many venues across the state with his band, playing the accordion left handed and by ear, not sheet music.
He farmed many years with his family on a dairy farm and cropping until 1978 when Dean and Rosalin divorced and sold the farm. He then move to Little Falls/St. Cloud area where he spent 11 years with Bernie Diebel. In 1987 he suffered a stroke and lost his ability to perform his love for music. In March 1997 he married Genmary Elnar. They wintered in Arizona until his health didn’t allow. He spent nine years at GracePointe Crossing Gables East until his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Robert; infant sisters, Margaret and Donie; brothers, Donald (Irene) Wentworth, Glenn Wentworth; brother-in-law, Joe Lindroth; and twin grandsons, Nathaniel and Daniel Hagfors.
Dean is survived by his wife, Genmary; five children, Paulette (David) McCullough and her family, Jennifer (Jeff) Haubert, Suzi (Dave) Todd, Jeff (Jessica) McCullough; Gary (Cyndee) Wentworth and his family, Joshua (Trisha) Wentworth and Amy (Dan) Baar; Penny (Doug) Hagfors and her family, Matt (Kayla) Hagfors and Rebecca (Joey) Dvorak; Julie (Scott) Glidden and her family, Kyle and Jared Glidden; Greg (Jean) Wentworth; stepson, John (Claire) Elnar; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters, Wayve Lindroth, Carol (Chet) Leider; sister-in-law, Margaret Wentworth; ex-wife, Rosalin Wentworth; and by many more loving relatives and friends.
Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Strike Funeral Home – Cambridge Chapel with a visiting time one hour prior. Online condolences can be made at StrikeFuneral.com.