Betty LuVern Dale, 89, of Crookston, Minnesota, passed away in her home Thursday evening, July 20, 2023, with members of her loving family at her side.
Betty was born on the family farmstead near Halstad, MN on March 12, 1934, the youngest of four children of the union of Lars and Dina (Oien) Stene. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and graduated from Halstad High School with the Class of 1953. Betty then moved to Crookston, where she enrolled in the Bethesda School of Nursing. After her graduation in 1954 as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Betty worked at a local hospital until her marriage to Orlen M. Dale on July 2, 1955. They would be blessed in coming years by the births of four children: Jeffrey, Daniel, Steven, and Renae. Orlen was employed in the construction field and for several years his work took the growing family to the communities of Fargo-Moorhead, Hallock, Climax, and other areas of North Dakota before finally settling in Crookston. Betty began working as an LPN at Crookston’s Bethesda Hospital until her retirement in 1991 from what came to be known as RiverView Hospital. Countless numbers of patients benefited from the excellent care she gave over a rewarding career that spanned 47 years and the friendships Betty formed with her colleagues were lifelong.
Betty was a devoted member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and WELCA. She also held memberships with Crookston’s VFW Auxiliary and Golden Link Senior Center. She enjoyed doing needlework, including crocheting, knitting, and cross-stitching. Gardening was a love of both Betty and Orlen, and while he tended to the vegetable patch, she added to the beauty of their yard with her colorful flower beds. Sadly, Orlen passed away on October 27, 1997. Betty continued to look forward to coffee with her many friends; enjoying family gatherings with her being the center of attention, and quiet moments spent reading. She aged gracefully but regretted not being able to help others as she had done throughout her life. Though she wisely accepted her limitations, Betty made it known that she didn’t have to like it!
Betty will be lovingly remembered and forever missed by her 4 children: Jeffrey Dale of Andover, MN, Daniel Dale of Crookston, MN, Steven Dale of Clearwater, FL, and Renae Sperling and husband, Jeffrey, of Crookston; 10 grandchildren: Eric (Abbe) Dale, Elissa (Lex) Mwesiga, Easton (Maddie) Dale, Emily (Andy) Wendorf, Carmen (Jeremy) Fath, Aaron (Erica) Dale, Chad (Amy) Sperling, Matthew Sperling, Heidi Sperling, and Heather Sperling (Scott Smith); 16 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Allen Stene of Ada, MN; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. In addition to Orlen, Betty’s beloved husband of 41 years, she was preceded in death by her parents, Lars and Dina Stene; sister, Irene Christianson, and brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Alice Stene. May God richly bless the memory of Betty LuVern Dale.
Betty’s life will be celebrated at a Memorial Service to be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, August 2, 2023, in the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, Crookston, MN, with The Rev. Michael Ozaki, officiating. Visitation with the family will be for one hour prior to the service. The funeral will be live streamed by going to Betty’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. Burial will take place in the Skatvold Cemetery, Climax, MN. Memorials may be given in Betty’s name to the Trinity Lutheran Church Broadcast Fund, Hospice of the Red River Valley, or any fund/charity of choice.
Messages of condolence may be offered to Betty’s family via the funeral home website.
