By Anne DeVries
After sixty years in ministry and at the age of 88, Dean Busboom, Riverbend Church’s Senior Adults Pastor, retired at the end of June. Dean's remarkable journey in ministry and through a life focused on service and family is worthy of recognition and inspiration.
Dean’s calling to ministry began in high school after he lost his father during his junior year. During this challenging time, he found solace and mentorship from his pastor, which led him to visit hospitals and recognize the divine calling to pursue ministry. This early experience shaped Dean’s lifelong commitment to helping others, a trait further honed by his upbringing on a farm in Illinois, where he bucked hay and birthed cows.
Following high school, Dean attended Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he received a dual basketball and baseball scholarship. He played both sports for four years while securing a triple major. After starting in the ministry in Colorado, followed by Wichita Falls, Texas, he arrived in Austin in 1974. His vocational work in the city included a position at Faith Lutheran Church and Riverbend Church, and he has been an active member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church since 1994.
In 2005, Dean joined the Riverbend Church staff. Initially, he conducted research for founding pastor Dr. Gerald Mann. Over the next two decades, Dean presided over the Senior Adults ministry and officiated numerous weddings, funerals, memorial services, and baptisms, touching the lives of many.
Dean's tenure at Riverbend was highlighted by his leadership of over 100-day trips, including visits to prominent Texas sites, historical locations, painted churches, missions, and numerous musicals, plays, and other productions. His teaching has been equally impactful, covering topics such as Church History, World Religions, Islam, Ecclesiastes, Romans, Revelations, and a recent 3½-year study on Psalms. He cherished sharing life with the Senior Adults, engaging in discussions on worldly matters. Additionally, Dean led six trips to Israel, providing over 170 people with the profound experience of visiting the holy sites in the region.
Beyond his vocational achievements, Dean’s family legacy is a testament to the fruits of his life. He has been married to his wife, Sally, for 65 years and is a proud father of four children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, with an eighth on the way. His enduring spirit makes him a pastor to be treasured and a man to be upheld as a role model for future generations.
Dean’s remarkable heart and wide breadth of knowledge have left an indelible mark during his 60-plus years in ministry, 50 of which were in Austin. As he retires at 88, Dean looks forward to working in his yard and resurrecting his garden. His legacy will endure, reflecting the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23)
