While I was up there, I learned that Dean had written out what he had shared at Dad's funeral. I asked for a copy, and he said I could post it here. Thanks Uncle Dean - since there wasn't a recording of the funeral, I'm so glad to have this tribute in writing and not just in memory.
My Brother
Myself, being the first boy born in my family, after my four lovely sisters, they said it was one of my Dad's happiest days when I was born. When my brother Dale was born 4.50 years later they said it was one of my Mother's happiest days. Not only did she have another boy but she had one with red hair. My Mother's Dad had red hair so they gave Dale my Mother's maiden name which was Swan.
When they brought Dale home from the hospital I was thrilled to see my brother. I even gave him my favorite tractor to play with in his crib, but for some reason he didn't want no part of it.
Dale's childhood days were spent catching frogs, snapping turtles and putting them in the bottom of the silo that we didn't use on the farm. The bottom was almost completely covered with them. Dale also invented a hobby he called "Beeing" in which he would go up and down the road with a jar catching bees, butterflies or whatever. He also took several people with him to try and master this hobby.
One time my cousins were visiting and us 4 boys were playing cards on the porch, something happened and the cards got thrown, well I was left to pick them up. They had all ran out the door. I was going to get them. I ran out the door to see my brother going towards the one side of the house so I decided to go around the other way, what a mistake! Dale and I collided with his head hitting my mouth. I got a cut lip and lost my front tooth and there wasn't even a mark on his hard head.
After my graduation and leaving home I didn't see my brother that much except for the start of hunting and fishing seasons. We also went up to the Boundary waters fishing 3 or 4 times. We would be the first canoe out in the morning and the last one in at night. Dale loved it up there and it was a good time for us to be together.
Dale was so busy in his church work and things seemed to be going so well. Then I heard he was having stomach problems. I called him and we talked about it. After our conversation I got a knot in my stomach knowing something was really wrong.
I know many of you people here today had that same feeling. Last Monday my knot went away after I heard of his passing. His illness was like a dark cloud every week the cloud got darker and heavier. And you try to see that silver lining in the cloud. I still believe we are going to see that silver lining. He was always on our minds. Sometimes I would wake in the middle of the night thinking of him. Say a prayer and try to get some sleep
The last time I saw Dale was in the Duluth Hospital. We talked and then his dear daughter Angie came in, Dale was nauseous and wondered why his stomach pump wasn't on. Well Angie said she could turn it on as she had seen the nurse do it. Dale said to crank it up. Dale got instant relief, then the nurse came in Dale told her they had turned it on. The nurse suggested maybe turning it off because it was only to be on by Doctor's orders. Angie was the best nurse Dale had. And then Dale's dear wife Amy. She was so good to him and put up with so much. Dale told me she was a keeper.
This last summer we had a family reunion in Shell Lake. After we went out to the farm. Dale, Angie, Angie's boyfriend Ben and I took a walk. Remembering about our childhood memories and landmarks of the farm. After walking about 3/4 mile we asked Dale if he wanted to turn back, he said no. We walked back to my cabin and back. We could not believe he would go that far.
One day I was having a hard day coping, when a chorus from a old gospel song came into my head. It goes like this, "When I've gone the last mile of the way I will rest at the close of the day for I know there are joys that await me when I gone the last mile of the way". I'm glad I was there to walk one of those last miles with him.
I love you Brother.
