Dale Duane Schnabel

Dale Duane Schnabel was born Dec. 5, 1938 on the farm north of Tripp, S.D. to Albert and Otilia Schnabel. Dale attended school at Baltzer Elementary School District 43. He and his brothers, Derald and Orville were thick as thieves. Dale started the first grade without speaking English, which made graduating from the 8th grade with an 86 percent average notable. He was always proud of his penmanship, spelling and appearance.

He loved playing baseball. He enjoyed muddy days, because that meant no farmwork and if they caught fish, no chicken for supper. Dale enlisted in the Navy in 1956 to gain a new perspective of the world other than the one he was accustomed to seeing from atop a tractor or from the underside of a cow. After the Navy, Dale turned to construction work. He met Barbara Klundt at a get-together in Chamberlain. Dale proposed to her after hunting together in the rain on opening day of pheasant season and made her his wife. They were married April 5, 1964 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Herrick, S.D.

Dale moved toward becoming a journeyman plumber and after a few relocations throughout South Dakota, started a family. Kimberly was born July 19, 1965 and Nick, Aug. 16, 1971. They spent the majority of their lives in Mitchell and Rapid City. Dale then established Wall Plumbing and Heating and provided service to residential and commercial projects in Wall for a few years.

They enjoyed drive-in movies, fast cars and playing cards. He was a fiendish pinochle player. They taught their children to be reverent and respectful in the pew and listen to the Word. It was either right or wrong for him. "ANYONE can do that, but it takes someone special to do it right." He taught us responsibility showing us how to care for all our animals. Dale attended his first football game just to watch his daughter cheer for the homecoming game. He beamed with pride while attending her Snow Queen Pageant at the Corn Palace, and was so excited to take all of us to a Johnny Cash concert there.

Dale attended his son's state championship football game and was so proud of him, and he was there a year later to dry his tears after they were eliminated. His role changed from father, to an amazingly compassionate caregiver aiding his terminally ill wife while dealing with his own diminishing health.

Dale was a sucker for handy stuff, if one was good, you'd probably need three or four. He had a legendary sweet tooth for everything from donuts to kuchen and was an absolute ice cream hound. The radio always needed to be dialed in on a country music station and be on whether you were at home or not. Dale enjoyed and had an affinity for leather work and created many sheathes and belts and admired leather jackets.

Dale was a stickler for vehicle maintenance, "check your tires and here's a quart of oil to put in your car." Dale hated cloudy days, and scrambled eggs (ANYONE can make THOSE). Towards the end, he maintained a steady diet of "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," and Fig Newtons. He would light up at the invitation to ride around in his friend's restored 1936 Ford pickup with him. Dale was also able to bag his last buck this year. Other claims to fame included; roping a beaver, driving a car up a tree, owning a bar, and saluting Queen Elizabeth II.

Dale passed from this earth and into the Lord's heaven, in the arms of two people who he enjoyed, on a bright spring morning at 9:21 a.m. unable to reach the ringing cell phone. God didn't create a perfect man in Dale, but he gave those around him, who were willing to observe and look up to him, a decent place to start.

Dale's memory will be cherished by his children, Kimberly (Kelly) Gregg of Mitchell, S.D., Nick (Deanne) Schnabel of Bozeman, Mont. and four grandchildren, Kirby Gregg of Aberdeen, S.D., Kaitlin Gregg of Mitchell, S.D., and Savannah and Quade Schnabel of Bozeman, Mont.

Dale is survived by his mother, Otilia Schnabel and brother, Derald, both of Tripp, S.D., and numerous relatives.

Funeral and reception at Frieden's Reformed Church U.C.C., Tripp, S.D., 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Special Thanks to: Mary Beth Siewert, Bozeman Wound Clinic, Dr. Kari Ritter, Frontier Home Health, First Choice Home Health, the staff at Darlinton Manor, and the staff at Bridger Healthcare Community.

Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service, www.dokkennelson.com.