DALE R. PETERSON

Dale R. Peterson, 72 of Rolla formerly of Rock Lake, ND passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Rock Lake, ND. Visitation will be at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, May 6th from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and will continue on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the Hansboro Cemetery, Hansboro, ND with a time of fellowship to follow the burial at the Hansboro Hall. Dale Roger, son of Gilbert and Irene (Blackorby) Peterson was born on November 6, 1943 at Rolla, ND. He was baptized into the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Hansboro in 1946 and became a confirmed member of the Hansboro Lutheran Church in 1957. He grew up on the family farm and attended Hansboro Public School, graduating from Hansboro High School with the class of 1961. He continued his education at Bismarck Junior College and received his Associate of Arts Degree in 1965. He also attended UND and became a lifelong Fighting Sioux hockey fan. Dale was united in marriage to Marlene Mitchell on September 16, 1966 at the Rock Lake United Methodist Church. They would establish their home on the Peterson farm, rural Rock Lake and live, love and raise their children there, moving to Rolla in 2004, very reluctantly, but eventually happy to call Rolla home. Farming was Dale’s passion and he never truly retired from farming, but semi-retired in 2004, turning over the helm to his son Brady. He was OK with being the “hired hand” the last few years. Farming kept him busy, but he also began as a substitute rural mail carrier for the Sarles Post Office in 1980. Eventually he would work full time as a rural mail carrier out of the Devils Lake office, retiring from that full-time position in 2004. Dale was active in the community and faithfully served on the Hansboro Cemetery Board and also the Rock Lake School Board for many years. Dale was an active member of the Hansboro Lutheran Church and later joined the Rock Lake United Methodist Church. He played Old Pro Softball with the Hansboro team for many years and when he no longer played, he still loved to watch the game. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and golf, but he would give up most any other activity to fish. He fished the waters of the Bisbee Dam, Rock Lake, Canada, Devils Lake, anywhere the walleye were biting and even fished the waters off the coast of Florida and Alaska. Any time spent with family and friends were considered “great days” for Dale. And every adventure was a chance to visit with old friends and make some new ones. Our hearts break, the tears flow, but love for this man of great faith, who loved family, farming and fishing is never ending and a treasured legacy. Dale is survived by his loving family. His wife Marlene of nearly 50 years; sons Cody Peterson, Longmont, Colorado and Brady (Wanda) Peterson, Rock Lake and daughter Kally (Tim) Rosencrans, Grand Forks, ND; grandsons Blaine Peterson, Concord, North Carolina and Tim and Randy Peterson, Rock Lake; brother Montell (Dee) Peterson, Hermantown, MN; brothers-in-law Scott (Marsha) Mitchell, Rolla, and Guy (Cathy) Mitchell, Rock Lake; several nieces, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law LaVerne and James Rod; sister-in-law Loraine Peterson; father-in-law and mother-in-law Ray and Charmaine Mitchell; nephew Curt Peterson.