Elizabeth B. Dean, 84, 1600 McPherson Avenue, died Monday at a Indian Hills Nursing Center after an extended illness of chronic respiratory failure. She was born October 7, 1900, in New York City, and had lived in Council Bluffs since 1931. She was the widow of Dr. Abbot Dean, a longtime ophthomologist in Council Bluffs, who preceded her in death in 1977. Mrs. Dean was a member of the First Congregational Church.

She was active in the Pottawattamie County Historical Society becoming president of the group in 1965. In the past years she was nominated for the post of secretary of the Iowa League of Women Voters in 1953, and elected as president of the League in 1954. She was named to the board of the American Association for the United Nations, Iowa branch in 1959. She directed plays at Chanticleer Theater, a member of the Service League and the Booklovers. She had written articles that were published in the Saturday Evening Post and Collier magazines, and was the author of three detective novels. She was a graduate of Penbroke College and received her master's Degree from Radcliffe.

Survivors include a son, William of Ridgewood, NJ and three grandchildren. Following cremation there will be a memorial service at the Cutler Funeral Chapel. Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.