Aggie Ring repairs and resizing via The Association temporarily paused. See full details
Roll Call Tribute
Dennis Hess '64 May 24, 2011 9:36 AM
Published in the (Victorville CA) Daily Press from May 22 to June 1, 2011
DENNIS PAUL HESS
Dennis Paul Hess went home to be with his Lord on May 17, 2011. Dennis was born December 18, 1934, in Valley City, North Dakota. His parents were John and Mabell Hess. He was brought up on a farm in Sanborn, North Dakota. As he grew up he enjoyed helping his father with the farm. In his teens he raised his own purebred cattle. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict, and was stationed at White Sands Proving Ground, attached to a missle-testing unit, at Fort Bliss, Texas. Dennis married his high-school sweetheart, Marlys Sundstrom, at First Methodist Church in Valley City, North Dakota, on December 30, 1956.
Dennis graduated from North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1960, with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He then taught in Montana for three years. Their son, Brian, was born in Montana. Several summers were spent in Glacier National Park, where Dennis was a Ranger Naturalist. He enjoyed his time there surrounded by majestic mountains, waterfalls, and clear-blue lakes. Besides conducting hikes over the trails, he gave talks at the Many Glacier Hotel and around evening campfires. Dennis was always thankful to have had the opportunity to spend summers there. He and his family went back to visit several times later in life.
In 1963, Dennis received a National Science Foundation Schol[a]rship to further [h]is education and received a Master's Degree in Science at the Texas A & M. The family moved to Barstow, California in 1964, where Dennis taught chemistry and physics at Barstow High School and Kennedy High School. He also taught evening classes at Barstow College. Their daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born in Barstow. Apple Valley became home to Dennis and family in 1984. He continued to teach, now commuting to Barstow for two more years. Dennis joined his son, Brian, in developing a water-well drilling company called Desert Oasis Drilling. Their company drilled wells all over the desert area for customers who wanted to live on larger parcels of land.
He enjoyed gardening, wood-working, and reading. Dennis was devoted to his beloved family and cherished time with them. He cared deeply for his granddaughters, Briana Elizabeth and Katie Ann, who lovingly called him Papa.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Marlys Hess, of Apple Valley, his son, Brian Hess, and his wife, Adain, of San Diego, daughter, Elizabeth and her Husband, Duane Ziegler of Apple Valley; granddaughters, Briana and Katie Ann Ziegler, and his sister, Elaine Hill, of Valley City, North Dakota.
A celebration of his life will be held Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 200 pm at the Roy Rogers Dale Evans Chapel at Sunset Hills, 24000 Waalew Road, Apple Valley, California. Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary is handling the arrangements. Updated service information and a on line guest book are available at sunsethills.cc
DENNIS PAUL HESS
Dennis Paul Hess went home to be with his Lord on May 17, 2011. Dennis was born December 18, 1934, in Valley City, North Dakota. His parents were John and Mabell Hess. He was brought up on a farm in Sanborn, North Dakota. As he grew up he enjoyed helping his father with the farm. In his teens he raised his own purebred cattle. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict, and was stationed at White Sands Proving Ground, attached to a missle-testing unit, at Fort Bliss, Texas. Dennis married his high-school sweetheart, Marlys Sundstrom, at First Methodist Church in Valley City, North Dakota, on December 30, 1956.
Dennis graduated from North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1960, with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He then taught in Montana for three years. Their son, Brian, was born in Montana. Several summers were spent in Glacier National Park, where Dennis was a Ranger Naturalist. He enjoyed his time there surrounded by majestic mountains, waterfalls, and clear-blue lakes. Besides conducting hikes over the trails, he gave talks at the Many Glacier Hotel and around evening campfires. Dennis was always thankful to have had the opportunity to spend summers there. He and his family went back to visit several times later in life.
In 1963, Dennis received a National Science Foundation Schol[a]rship to further [h]is education and received a Master's Degree in Science at the Texas A & M. The family moved to Barstow, California in 1964, where Dennis taught chemistry and physics at Barstow High School and Kennedy High School. He also taught evening classes at Barstow College. Their daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born in Barstow. Apple Valley became home to Dennis and family in 1984. He continued to teach, now commuting to Barstow for two more years. Dennis joined his son, Brian, in developing a water-well drilling company called Desert Oasis Drilling. Their company drilled wells all over the desert area for customers who wanted to live on larger parcels of land.
He enjoyed gardening, wood-working, and reading. Dennis was devoted to his beloved family and cherished time with them. He cared deeply for his granddaughters, Briana Elizabeth and Katie Ann, who lovingly called him Papa.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Marlys Hess, of Apple Valley, his son, Brian Hess, and his wife, Adain, of San Diego, daughter, Elizabeth and her Husband, Duane Ziegler of Apple Valley; granddaughters, Briana and Katie Ann Ziegler, and his sister, Elaine Hill, of Valley City, North Dakota.
A celebration of his life will be held Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 200 pm at the Roy Rogers Dale Evans Chapel at Sunset Hills, 24000 Waalew Road, Apple Valley, California. Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary is handling the arrangements. Updated service information and a on line guest book are available at sunsethills.cc
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
When Aggies see a need, their energy and their selflessness draw others into the cause, and good things happen.
© 2025 The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University, All Rights Reserved