Dale Lovelace

Dale Roy Lovelace was born August 23, 1938, at the Bertha hospital, to Alfred and Edna (Young) Lovelace. He grew up with his brothers, Orrin and Dick, on the family farm in rural Verndale MN. Dale attended District 55 country school, which was uphill, both ways, from their home. When that school closed, he attended Hewitt school for 2 years. Dale started his 4 years of high school at Verndale, where he picked up the nickname ‘Red’ due to his red hair and freckles. He graduated in 1956. Dale worked a variety of jobs throughout his young life – bowling pin setter and helping at the Wadena Roller Rink - to name just a few. All the while, he helped on the family farm, mainly with horses, a love he had for the rest of his life. In 1958, he started working in road construction in the Twin Cities area. He worked on clearing fields and swamps to make some of the major roads throughout the Cities and parts of I-94 up to Rothsay. He wed Arliss McAllister April 9, 1960, and with the addition of Mike in 1960 and Donna in 1962, they moved to where the dozer work was. They moved to Hewitt in 1965 and Dale traveled Sundays to the job and returned home on Friday nights. Patricia arrived during the worst blizzard of 1966. In April 1969, they bought and moved onto the family farm where 9 months later, Connie arrived. Apparently, Dale didn’t think he was busy enough farming as he bought his first dozer in 1977, beginning a career of custom dozer work and stepping off his last one just last August, a few days after his 84th birthday. He also served on the Stowe Prairie township board for 33 years. At the age of 20, Dale picked up the guitar and continued to play his whole life. During the 60s, Dale and his friends had jam sessions in the kitchen. From the 70s and on, Donna joined in playing in the kitchen, with just the family there. Whoever wanted to join in the singing was welcome. There is a special story about the song ‘Don't Squeeze My Sharmon’ that Arliss, Patricia and Connie share. In the 90s Dale was in his first band, The Pickers and the Grinners, with other local musicians. The last several years, he loved to play for different communities, nursing homes and join in other jam sessions. Dale also enjoyed hunting, 4 wheeling and riding his golf cart all over the farm, especially riding with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dale loved spending time with all his family – wife, children, grand and great-grandchildren - along with all of the bonus grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even 2 great-great-grandchildren, who all came along with his children’s families. Dale passed away on Sunday April 2nd, 2023, at home with family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Edna; daughter, Donna Link; in-laws, Henry and Ruby McAllister; brother, Orrin; son-in-law, Greg Schlosser; and grandson, Cody Lovelace. Survived by his wife of almost 63 years, Arliss; son, Mike (Jody) – Verndale; daughters, Patricia Anderson - Circle Pines and Connie (Jim) Lepper – Wadena; son-in-law, Vaughn Link; grandchildren: Tara (Tom) Lanigan, Courtney (Trevor) Morris, Rhianna Graham (Jacob), Samantha (Clayton) Grossinger, Cassandra Lovelace and Jacob Lepper, 8 (+ 1 on the way) great-grandchildren, 7 bonus grandchildren, 12 bonus great-grandchildren and 2 bonus great-great-grandchildren; brother, Richard (Emelie) Lovelace; sister-in-law, MaryAnn Lovelace; aunt Della Young; and many, many in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. A Celebration of Life Open House will be held on April 29, 2023, at the Hewitt Community Center from 12 until 3:00 p.m. A service of remembrance will begin at 1:00. Honorary urn bearers will be Marlowe Marsh, Vernell Missling, Gene Hinman, Gary Kneisl, Tim Richter, Steve Richter, Con VanBatavia, Wally Weise, Tim Jasmer, Paul Richter, Bryce Greer, Gary VanDam, Dave Lindblom, Phil Schmidt Urnbearers will be Jacob Lepper, Matt Lepper, Dan Lepper, Gregory Schmidt, Michael Schlosser, Tom Lanigan, Trevor Morris, Jacob Aune and Clayton Grossinger. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials in Dale's name to Knute Nelson Hospice. (420 12th Avenue East Alexandria, MN 56308 or go to: www.knutenelson.org) The burial will be in Mt. Nebo Cemetery.

Dale Lovelace

August 23, 1938 - April 2, 2023