Dale's service will be livestreamed at this link: https://www.bethlehemaberdeen.org/worship/worship-online

Dale Alan Lundquist, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully at Bethesda Home on September 20, 2026, at the age of 81.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with Pastor Amber Wichmann officiating.

A time for fellowship and refreshments will follow at the church hall.

Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Aberdeen Area Humane Society, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, or plant a tree in Dale’s memory.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is honored to serve the Lundquist family. Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s Facebook following the service.

Dale was born December 5, 1944, in Langdon, North Dakota, to Alvin and Vivian (Lunde) Lundquist. He attended Langdon Public School and graduated in 1963. On October 16, 1965, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane “MJ” Nelson, at Dovre Lutheran Church in Osnabrock, North Dakota. From that day forward, Dale and MJ built a life filled with family, friendship, adventure, laughter, and more than a few good stories.

They began their married life in Langdon, where Dale worked at the ABM, the anti-ballistic missile site known as the Pyramid Silos. In 1966, Dale joined the National Guard, and that same year, he and MJ welcomed their first son, Brian Marc.

Dale later found an opportunity with the North Dakota Fish and Wildlife Service in Oakes, North Dakota. From there, the family moved to Hillsboro, North Dakota, where their second son, Chadd Alan, was born. During those years, Dale also worked for Schwan’s Frozen Foods.

Eventually, the ABM site called Dale back to Langdon. From there, he accepted a position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Pickstown, South Dakota. After seven years, he transferred to Chamberlain, where he became a Corps of Engineers Park Manager. He was the project manager for Lake Francis Case from Big Bend Dam to Fort Randall Dam. Dale took great pride in his work and enjoyed the people, outdoors, and responsibilities that came with the job. After 35 years of government service, he retired with many accomplishments and countless memories.

For Dale, though, work was only one part of a much bigger life.

He was a man who believed in staying busy, trying new things, helping others, and enjoying the people around him. He had a quick wit and an unforgettable sense of humor. Dale was a natural prankster and loved nothing more than getting a laugh or seeing someone’s face light up with a smile. He could tell a good joke, and he always seemed to have a story ready. Those who knew him well will remember not only what he said, but the twinkle in his eye when he knew he had a good one coming.

Family was at the center of Dale’s life. He and MJ eventually moved to Aberdeen to be closer to their sons and their growing families. Dale treasured his four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and took great pleasure in watching each of them grow. He loved family gatherings, conversations around the table, outdoor adventures, and simply having everyone together.

Some of his fondest memories came from Lake Metigoshe in North Dakota. When his parents and the whole family were together, Dale cherished those times. Those family days became the kind of memories that remain long after the years have passed.

Dale and MJ also embraced retirement with enthusiasm. Their retirement years gave them the freedom to enjoy the outdoors, travel, meet new people, and continue doing the things they loved.

For many years, Dale and MJ were camp hosts at Mina Lake. They loved welcoming campers and making camping a little more fun for everyone. Dale was always ready to lend a hand, whether that meant bringing firewood to a campsite, visiting with campers, or, of course, sharing a story or two. They enjoyed getting to know the people who came through the campground and creating memories along the way. Their years at Mina Lake were another reflection of the way Dale lived his life—outdoors, surrounded by people, helping where he could, and finding plenty of opportunities to make someone smile.

Winters became an opportunity to escape the cold and spend time in Mesa, Arizona, where Dale and MJ enjoyed sunshine, friends, golf, and many activities. Golf was a lifelong passion for Dale. In South Dakota, he rated golf courses for the South Dakota Golf Association, combining his love of the game with his enjoyment of meeting people and being outdoors. Later, in Arizona, he continued that passion by serving as a marshal on several golf courses.

Whether he was playing the game in South Dakota, helping out on the course in Arizona, or spending time at Mina Lake, Dale enjoyed the camaraderie, the outdoors, and the people these activities brought into his life.

In October 2022, as Dale’s health began to decline, he and MJ returned to Aberdeen so they could be closer to family.

Dale had a remarkable number of interests. He loved fishing, hunting, curling, golfing, snowmobiling, trap shooting, and cruising on their Can-Am Spyder. He enjoyed carving wood figurines and birds, taking pictures, making fly-fishing lures, and cooking. And, because Dale was Dale, he also loved playing the didgeridoo.

He believed in sharing his interests and giving his time to others. Dale taught Hunter Safety for 18 years and was a Master Gardener. He was a Yeldez Shriner for 18 years, serving as a chanter and Shrine Circus coordinator.

Music and community were also important parts of Dale’s life. In Chamberlain, he sang with a quartet called the OK Corral. He loved the group not simply for the music, but because it gave him a chance to entertain people and bring enjoyment to the community. Making people smile was something Dale genuinely enjoyed.

He was also one of the founders of the Chamberlain Booster Club and served as past president of the Chamberlain Country Club. In Mesa, he served as past president of the Park Links Home Development. Wherever Dale lived, he found ways to become involved, meet people, lend a hand, and make friends.

Dale’s life was an adventure, but it was never really about the places he went or the things he accomplished. It was about the people he shared them with.

He was the husband who shared more than 60 years of marriage with MJ. He was the dad who watched his sons build lives of their own. He was the grandpa who delighted in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was the friend who could make you laugh when you needed it most. He was the prankster who was always looking for an opportunity to bring a smile. He was the storyteller, outdoorsman, musician, golfer, gardener, cook, craftsman, and community member who never seemed to run out of something to do—or someone to visit with.

Dale also had a special place in his heart for his dogs. His hunting dogs, Beau, Wally, and Sandy, were cherished companions on many outdoor adventures and shared in his love of hunting and the outdoors. At home, Tiko, Heidi, and Toki were much more than pets—they were beloved members of the family who brought Dale companionship, comfort, and plenty of happy memories. His love for his dogs was just another reflection of the way he cared deeply for the animals and people who were part of his life.

Most of all, Dale knew how to enjoy life.

Dale will be remembered for his generous heart, adventurous spirit, quick wit, mischievous sense of humor, love of the outdoors, devotion to his family, and the simple joy he found in making other people smile.

His stories will be told, his jokes will be remembered, and the memories he created will continue to bring laughter and warmth to those who loved him.

Dale lived a full and colorful life, surrounded by family, friends, and people who cared about him. He left the world a little brighter simply by being in it—and he will be deeply missed.

Dale is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife, MJ (Tootsie, Toots); his sons, Brian (Melanie) Lundquist and Chadd Lundquist; grandchildren, Allie (Ryan) Gunderson, Zach Lundquist (special friend Makaiya), Landon (fiancé Mickayla) Lundquist, and Aspyn (Andrew) Thompson; great-grandchildren, James Grace and Graham Gunderson; two sisters, Deanna (Jim) Swenson and Jan (Kevin) Stein; brother-in-law Bill Restad; daughter-in-law, Trena Lundquist; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews who were fortunate enough to share a part of his journey.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Vivian Lundquist; sister Kay (Bill) Restad; and many aunts and uncles.

A special thank you to the staff at the Bethesda home, Avera Hospice, Orin and Ardelle Johnson-longtime family friends, Ann Rasmussen and Pastor Amber from Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The kindness, warmth, compassion and unwavering humble care was truly felt by the Dale Lundquist family.