Dale R. Steele, 100

A graveside service for Dale R. Steele, 100 years old, of Pierce, were held on Wednesday, February 18, at the Ainsworth City Cemetery.

Military Rites were conducted by American Legion Post #79, and the United States Army Honor Guard. Dale passed away on Wednesday, February 11, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite worthy cause. Stonacek Memorial Chapel i n P ierce i s i n c harge o f t he arrangements.

Dale was born November 11, 1925 to parents Eugene and Rose Steele on t heir r anch s outh o f A insworth. A t a v ery young a ge, h e a nd h is three brothers and sister learned the valuable lesson of hard work and self-sufficiency that were later forged in the Great Depression. He attended a country grade school and then graduated from Brown County High School. Immediately after graduation, Dale entered the United S tates A rmy d uring W orld War I I a nd s erved i n F rance, Germany, Belgium, and Czechoslovakia.

Eventually, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant, and at the end of the war h e was a w itness t o h istory a s a G uard a t the N uremberg War Crimes Trials for the top Nazi Leaders. Returning from the Army, Dale met a nd m arried D oris B rown, h is w ife of 7 2 y ears. T hey r aised Hereford cattle and Dale worked at the Farmers Co-op in Bassett. He later managed the Farmers Co-op in Pierce, and before he retired, he sold irrigation and grain handling equipment for Petersen and Son, Inc in Osmond.

In their later years, Dale and Doris enjoyed traveling through the United States, the Caribbean, and Hawaii in the winter months. Their grandchildren and the neighborhood children were always welcome into t heir h ouse f or c ookies, s nacks a nd t o g et a ir f or t heir b icycle tires.

Dale is survived by his children Robert (Laurrie) of Yankton, S.D., and their children Scott and Stacie (Mike); Roger (Lianna) of Grand Island, and their children Leslie (Shannon) and Laura; daughter Colleen of Omaha; and step son Allan Little of State College, Penn.; and a sister-in-law Ruth Ann Steele of Ainsworth.

He was preceded in death by his wife Doris (2020); brothers and their wives Robert (Virginia), Eugene (Klyda), Darrel (Ruth Ann-still living), and sister Mary Scheer (Gerhard/Bud). At his death, he is now considered to be the oldest Organ Donor in the United States.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.