Dee was born in Linwood, Wyoming, he had 12 brothers and sisters. He was the 7th child born into his family.
The Potters raised sheep and some cattle, they also gathered wild horses off the range to use. Dee enjoyed breaking horses, and he broke many and loved being on horseback more than anything.
He served in the Navy for a couple of years at the end of WWII. He married Donna Twitchell and together they worked the summers at the sheep camp for the Potter family and ran wild horses.
Dee and Donna had 5 girls and 1 boy and he worked as a mechanic in Rock Springs off and on, but even though he lived in town he still had his horses and enjoyed the roping club and helped Dutch Heikes and Chuck Bonomo in the early days of the Sweetwater County fair.
His love of being back on the ranch was strong and he went to work for Miller Land and Livestock in the summer of 1965. He also worked for Fear Ranches and Gordon Mickelson. After moving back to Rock Springs, he spent calving season in Pinedale helping both of his son in laws on the ranches they worked on.
It was while roping a calf for branding that he was injured and due to this injury, he developed a staph infection that ended his life.