Dean was born on November 11, 1954 to Earl Laidlaw and Phyllis (Hall) Laidlaw at Paynesville, Minnesota.  His mother passed away when he was a young child and his father then married his stepmother, Beulah Maly.

   Dean enlisted in the United States Army Reserve on January 31, 1973 and underwent both basic training and Advanced Individual Training in the Infantry at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  Following AIT training, Dean was assigned to Company C, 1-409th Infantry Army Reserve in Paynesville, Minnesota.  Although never called to active duty during his tour of duty, Dean was honorable discharged on March 1, 1979 at the rank of Specialist 4.