Della A. Deen

Della Deen, 92, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma passed away November 9, 2023. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 10am, at Stumpff Funeral Home in Bartlesville, OK. Interment will follow the service in Nowata Memorial Cemetery. Della Ann (Owens Claypool) Deen was born at Bartlesville, Oklahoma on April 21, 1931, to Elvin and Dora Ethel (Hawkins) Owens. She attended Steel's Camp and Trusket grade school and graduated from Ramona High School in 1949. She always had the desire to work for Phillips Petroleum Company and did for thirteen years after graduating from Bartlesville Business College. Della married Jack Claypool in 1953 and lived in Bartlesville until his tragic death in 1960. She then returned to Philips and worked there until meeting and marrying John Deen in 1963. She raised two stepsons, Bill and Dale. Then John and she were blessed with a daughter Betty Ann. Della was very proud of Betty and of her two sons Bill and Dale. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Betty and she spent many joyful hours together, and she noted that Betty took good care of her mother. John and Della lived happily on their ranch for fifty-one years until John's death in 2015. Della was a member of New Harmony Baptist Church all her life. She started attending at age seven. She recalled running across the road to the church on Sunday's when she was young. Her pride and joy was teaching the junior girls in Sunday school and working in the two week Bible schools. She loved the Lord and tried to serve Him all her life. She is survived by her daughter, Betty Deen of Bartlesville, Oklahoma whom she lived with her final two years; her son Dale Deen of Honolulu, Hawaii; her daughter-in-law Mary Deen of Henderson, Nevada; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Evelyn Billbe of Bartlesville; sister Dortha Mae and husband Don Hudson of Bartlesville; and several nieces and nephews and cousins whom she always enjoyed. She was preceded in death by her husband John Deen, husband Jack Claypool, son Bill Deen, her brother and sister-in-law Leon and Naomi Owens, her brother-in-law David Billbe, her sister-in-law and husband Letha and Wayne Weeks, her nephew Danny Billbe, her parents Elvin and Dora Owens, and her mother-in-law and father-in-law Gertrude and Oscar Deen. Della faced many struggles in her life but never doubted God's faithfulness and guidance in her life. She is known for always saying she was never alone because "God is right here beside me." To honor her great love of the Lord, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to her cherished New Harmony Baptist Church as they continue to share God's love and promises with others.

Della A. Deen

April 21, 1931 - November 9, 2023