RUTHVEN -- A visitation for Dale E. Oppedal was held Monday, May 3, at the Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Ruthven.
Private family graveside service will be held today, Tuesday, May 4, at Crown Hill Cemetery in Ruthven. The Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Ruthven is in charge of arrangements.
Dale Edward Oppedal was born in rural Walnut Township, Palo Alto County, on Aug. 24, 1926, to Iver and Zelda (Prichard) Oppedal. Three years later his father purchased a farm located one and one half miles north of Lost Island Lake. The farm would be Dale’s home for most of the remaining years of his life. It was a place he truly loved and one that he always sought to improve.
Dale attended a one room school for eight years before attending the Lake Township Consolidated School as a tuition student. He graduated from there in 1944. He participated in baseball and was selected to play on a regional American Legion team.
Within a few months after the close of World War II, Dale was inducted into the United States Army. He served in the Philippines and with occupation forces in Korea. He was honorably discharged in September 1947. When calling his mother to tell her his army days were over, he borrowed a line from Gabriel Heatter, a prominent newscaster of the day: “There’s good news tonight.”
Dale farmed in partnership with his father before purchasing the home farm in 1966. He acquired joining acres and ran a successful crop and livestock operation. He married Norma Calvert Prichard on Jan. 10, 1981, and they farmed together until retiring from active farming. In retirement, they enjoyed golfing, entering in local tournaments and spending winter months at their home in Pharr, TX.
Dale always tried to master any subject or device with which he came in contact. He took several Great Courses on a variety of subjects ranging from astronomy to history to philo- sophy. He always had a desire to learn why things happen and how things work.
After a short illness, Dale died on Friday, April 30, 2021. He is survived by his wife Norma of Spencer; sister Ruth Konningrud of Hermiston, OR; brother Alan of Ruthven; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Thelma; and brothers Paul, Ivan and Dean.
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