Dale Gebhard

Dale Gebhard, 93, of Faulkton, passed away, Friday, August 26, 2016 at the Faulkton Senior Living, to a disease called Aplastic Anemia, which came from benzene in the gasoline he used to wash auto parts.

Funeral services will be 10:30a.m., Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota with Pastor Timothy Koch presiding. Burial will military honors will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 – 7:00p.m., Monday, August 29, 2016 with a 7:00p.m. prayer service at Luce Funeral Home.

Dale was born July 8, 1923 to Clark J. and Nellie “Marie” (Stacy) Gebhard at Norbeck, SD. He attended the Norbeck grade school for 8 years. His freshman year was spent in the Onaka High School, where he stayed with other students during the week. He was fortunate to ride to and from Onaka with Cecil Harris, a teacher, on Monday mornings and back on Friday afternoons. Highway 20 was only a short distance from the Gebhard farm, so that is where they would meet. In 1937, the Cresbard School District sent a school bus to pick up the High School students. Dale attended the school until graduating in 1941. He received awards for perfect attendance in the 12 years he was enrolled.

Dale entered the Navy in 1944. He spent 3 weeks at the Great Lakes Naval Station and then was assigned to Camp Schumaker. Later he was transferred to San Francisco and assigned to USS Isherwood, DE. He spent several months on convoy duty in the South Pacific. The USS Isherwood was in the Squadron located 50 miles from the USS Missouri when the Japanese surrendered. At the end of the war, his unit was sent to Charleston, South Carolina to decommission the USS Landsdowne, USS Parker and USS Isherwood. Dale was discharged from the Navy in 1946.

After his discharge, Dale worked for Fillback Implement in Wecota, and later for H & H Implement. In 1968 he started his own repair shop and became known as a master mechanic. He was accredited with being able to repair any type of equipment and never turned anyone down that needed his help. For example, he would often repair the elderly ladies lawn mowers at no charge and happily fill the youngsters bicycle tires with air or repair the tubes when necessary.

Dale met his wife, Lorraine Kukrall when she came to teach at the Norbeck school. They were married June 2^nd, 1952 in the Roscoe Presbyterian church with Rev. Leslie Lewis officiating.

As a member of the Faulkton 4-H club, Dale and four other members along with instructor Mr. Opdahl were invited to the 17^th Annual 4-H Club Congress in Chicago Illinois. The assembly of an IHC tractor is what captured Dale’s interest the most, which in turn led him to become a master mechanic for Vic Holsing Implement.

Pheasant hunting was a favorite sport of Dale’s. During the Joe Foss Pheasant hunt in Faulk County sponsored by Charles Bellman, Major J.H. Doolittle and his guest were invited. During the entire hunt, Major Doolittle chose to ride with Dale in his 1955 Chevy.

Dale was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wecota, a member of the Hunt-Newell American Newell Post No. 213 of Cresbard, and a lifetime member of the VFW.

Dale’s life will be cherished by his wife Lorraine of Faulkton; son, Kent Gebhard of Minneapolis, MN; two siblings: Dean Gebhard of Wecota and Lois Copper of Cali; and three brothers-in-law: Clarence Kukrall of Ipswich, William (Joan) Kukrall of Aberdeen and Delano (Eileen) Kukrall of Ipswich.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Edith Cardoza.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Dale’s arrangements.