Val Dean Dalling

1926 - 2008

Val Dean Dalling, 81, passed on to meet his eternal sweetheart, Nelda, on Tuesday, March 25, 2008, of natural causes, at his son's home in Rexburg.
Val was born in Sugar City on Oct. 12, 1926, to William Ricks Dalling and Sarah Ethel Orme. He was the fifth of seven children. He grew up in Sugar City, attending Sugar-Salem High School, where he lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track. Three days after graduation, he was sworn into the U.S. Army, serving in Germany and France in World War II.
After returning from the war, he married his high school sweetheart, Nelda Luke, in the Idaho Falls LDS temple. He then graduated from Ricks College with a bachelor's degree in science, on an athletic scholarship. He earned his Masters of Education at Utah State University.
He helped to organize and start the little league baseball program in Rexburg, where Nelda and he gave countless hours coaching, keeping score and officiating at many tournaments. He helped with American Legion Baseball and gave to the community through many years of service with the Kiwanis.
Val taught and coached sports at Madison and Sugar-Salem high schools.
He served as Madison Junior and Senior High School principal. He was President and Vice President of the 6th District Principal's Association. He then went to Ricks College as assistant basketball coach, intramural director, teacher, and public relations liaison. He later served as Ricks baseball coach. He loved working with the youth.
He and Nelda were awarded with the Distinguished Emeritus Service Award from the Ricks College Alumni, the People Make The Difference award from Madison High School and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce.
He served as bishop, stake president and patriarch in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He and Nelda served a mission at the San Diego Mormon Battalion Visitors' Center. They loved serving in the Idaho Falls Temple together. After returning home from their mission, Val spent many hours volunteering at Madison High School helping with the boys football and baseball, girls softball and basketball, with Nelda cheering and supporting the youth.
Val is survived by his five children and their spouses, Sherry Jardine of South Jordan, Utah, Vickie (Steve) Burningham of Centerville, Utah, Dean (Kathleen) of Rexburg, Debbie (Dean) Murray of West Haven, Utah, Roger (Kerry) of South Jordan, Utah; 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Also survived by brothers John, Lynn, Glenn and sister Elva Rose.
Preceded in death by his loving wife, Nelda, brother Lyle, sister Vola and his parents. The family would like to thank Dean and Kathleen for the loving care they gave dad.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Rexburg 12th Ward, Park Street church with Bishop Shiley officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Rexburg 12th Ward and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Rexburg Cemetery, under the direction of Flamm Funeral Home.