Dale Everett Worker

1930 - 2018

DALE EVERETT WORKER Dale Everett Worker, 86, passed away on May 28, 2017, under hospice care in Burley, Idaho. Dale remained a gentle, kind and appreciative soul, and still had a good sense of humor. His family found it comforting when his caregivers told them, "We can tell who he was, by who he is now." Dale was born August 17, 1930, on a farm in Hurricane Township, Illinois, the son of Everett and Beatrice (Mitchell) Worker. He later lived and worked in-and-near Ramsey, IL. Dale married Jean Wiss in 1950, and they moved to Peoria, IL, where they both worked at Caterpillar, and had their first child. In 1952 Dale took his family to Klamath, California to visit his beloved Uncle Jesse and Aunt Belva (Mitchell) Weaver. Dale and Jean fell in love with redwood country, so settled in Klamath, and later built their own house, and raised four children, in the Klamath Glen. Dale worked in the timber industry as: a sawmill worker; planer operator; green chain worker; scaler; water, oil and dump truck driver; and finally, a heavy equipment operator for Simpson - using bulldozers, road graders, and a Caterpillar DW-20 to build logging roads. The most treasured parts of Dale's life were his family and friends; hunting and fishing; travel; the Masonic Lodge, and the Shriners. He also had a creative urge that he satisfied by carving his own gunstocks, and crafting hunting knives for his children and grandchildren. In March 2015, Dale and Jean celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary, and in May their health issues made it impossible for them to continue to live independently. They moved to Idaho for care in an assisted living facility. That October, Dale lost his beloved wife and "Buddy," and afterward experienced a steady decline. He was placed in hospice care in 2017, after having been hospitalized, and spending several weeks in rehab. He passed May 28, 2017. Dale was survived by his sister, Genevieve Harris, of Ramsey, IL, but she has since passed. Other survivors include daughter, Karen Dimtroff (John) of Washington; son, Randall Worker (AeChong) of Washington; daughter, Kolleen Reeves of Idaho; and daughter, Karla Jesse (Joe) of Idaho. Dale loved his grandchildren: Justin Reeves (Angela) of New Mexico; Didi Green (James) of Illinois; Judy Monhollen (Paul) of Washington; Rochelle Osterhout (Kevin) of Idaho; and Lorenza Paulson (Jayme) of Idaho. And, for the past several years, Dale's greatest joys were his great grandchildren: Kyah Jesse; Jonathan and Annabeth Monhollen; Joey, Natalie, Lorilei and Norah Osterhout; and Kayden, Harper, Greysen, and Jasper Paulson. Dale is also survived by an aunt, Betty Worker, of Illinois, numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family, and many dear friends, all of whom remember him for his sense of humor, the hunting trips, and being regaled with stories of his life and his adventures. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jean (2015), and two grandchildren: Jonathan Worker (2002) and Renee Jesse (2010). A service was held for Dale in Idaho, at the Ebenezer Congregational Church in Paul, on August 3, 2017. A memorial service is scheduled for Dale in Crescent City, CA, on Friday, August 17, 2018, at 2:00 PM, at the United Methodist Church located at 664 "H" Street. The public is invited. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com