Dale Francis Davis

Mass of Christian Burial for Dale Francis Davis, 85, of Ellendale, ND, will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 23, 2015, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Westport, SD, with Father Don Glover, Celebrant and Father Tom Anderson, con-celebrating.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery with military rites being conducted by the Herman Schlenker American Legion Post #137 of Ellendale, ND.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, at the mortuary in Aberdeen, with a Liturgical Wake Service being held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation continues one hour before Mass at church on Friday.

Dale passed away Saturday, January 17, 2015, at Prince of Peace Care Center in Ellendale. Blessed be his memory.

Dale Francis Davis was the ninth child of ten born to Orrin T. and Josephine (Sherman) Davis. He was born March 6, 1929, in Ellendale, ND, and lived there until he was 13 years old. He then moved to his sister's farm (Bill & Pearl Harrison) in the Forbes, ND area to work.

In 1951, Dale entered the US Army and served two years in South Korea during the Korean War, where he was a motor sergeant on the front lines.

On July 3, 1956, Dale married Janet Schaefer and they bought his sister Cora (Fudge) Foist's farm southwest of Ellendale, where they lived and had four children. After selling the farm, they bought the Circle Bar in June of 1975 and renamed it "Dale's Corner Corral". During his time in the bar business he was instrumental in bringing the PRCA Rodeos to Ellendale, which were enjoyed by many.

He married Margaret "Cook" Mikkonen on September 26, 1987. After 22 years of working in the bar, Dale and Cook sold the bar in 1997. Over the next several years Dale held jobs as grounds keeper at the Ellendale Country Club and taking care of the Ellendale city parks and Ellendale cemetery before finally retiring in 2009. Following retirement, Dale continued to work at home planting flower gardens around the house; he was never one to sit still for more than a few minutes. On May 1, 2014, he entered Prince of Peace Care Center, where he remained until his death.

Dale loved to work in the garden, watch rodeos and play cards. He especially enjoyed visiting with family and friends.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers: Charles Davis, Warren "Shorty" Davis, Eugene Davis, Alfred Davis, Vernon Davis and Donald Davis; three sisters: Cora (Fudge) Wahl, Pearl Harrison and Elsie Juencke; one niece, Janice Shuck; and one nephew, Thomas Davis.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret "Cook" Davis of Ellendale, ND; his children: John Davis of Ellendale, Sherry (Mike) Bice of Aberdeen, Brenda (Shannon) Morris of Deadwood, SD, Kristy (Duane) Hegge of Aberdeen, SD, Tina (Blaine) Anliker of Chugiak, AK, Sonya (Jason) Beyer of Blaine, MN, Patrick (Carrie) Mikkonen of Mt. Vernon, SD, Rheiff (Kim) Mikkonen of Rapid City, SD and Heather (Matt) Sylvester of Cambridge, MN; 24 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild.