Dale Slieter

DALE EDWARD SLIETER was born on June 30, 1957 to Allan and Barbara (Quantz) Slieter in Roseville, California, a suburb of Sacramento, The family moved to Brigham City, Utah and later to San Jose, California. In 1965, the family moved to a farm near Hardwick, Minnesota. Dale grew up on the farm and attended elementary school in Hardwick and Luverne, graduating in 1975. He went on to attend Worthington Community College and South Dakota State University where he earned his degree in Animal Science. He completed an internship with the county extension in Sisseton, South Dakota. Dale moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and worked for the Western Insurance Company as a crop adjuster. He moved to Huron, South Dakota to begin work for GTA Feeds. While in Huron he met Janet Laughton. The couple was united in marriage on December 19, 1987 in Le Mars, Iowa. They made their first home in Luverne, Minnesota. Dale began work for the Moorman Feed Company. Being near the family farm rekindled Dale’s love of rural life and he decided to go into raising hogs and farming on the family farm. He also worked at IBP until the plant closed. He then began working at Hutchinson Technology in Sioux Falls. In 2000, Dale went to work with his father, Allan, selling insurance and investments with AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) which merged with Lutheran Brotherhood to become Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. He earned his CDL and spent time helping friends with their harvest and working part-time for Bennett Trucking of Sioux Falls. On Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Dale was struck by a vehicle south of Hardwick where he died at the age of 55 years and 24 days.

Dale was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota. He was an active member serving in the past as an elder and as church secretary. He liked playing dartball with the LLL. He was a member of NAIFA and had served as treasurer. He had served the past 5 years as the treasurer for the Luverne Baseball Association and was the proud captain of the Thrivent Bowling League Team. He had just recently become a member of the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce. Dale loved all sports; the playing of them, particularly bowling and golf, the watching of them as a fan of his sons and their Luverne Cardinal teams as well as the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, and Gophers and the history that surrounds them. Dale was known for his sports trivia knowledge and was quick to correctly answer sports related questions. Dale enjoyed playing pinochle with his family. Everyone enjoyed his humor and quick wit and his amazing attitude that “it will be alright” and “everything will work out.”

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Janet and their two sons, Joseph “Joey” and Joshua “Josh” all of Hardwick, Minnesota; his parents, Allan and Barbara Slieter of Hardwick, Minnesota; sister, Jeanette (Jim) Rutten of Norfolk, Nebraska; brothers, John (Jean) Slieter of Lincoln, Nebraska and Randy (Susan) Slieter of Olivia, Minnesota; parents-in-law, George and Mary Laughton of Le Mars, Iowa; sister-in-law, Kay (Ben) DeHart of Overland Park, Kansas; brother-in-law, Dave (Angie) Laughton of Le Mars; and many nieces and nephews. Dale was preceded in death by his brother, Robert; and niece, Alene Slieter.

A Scholarship fund for Joseph and Joshua has been established at the Exchange Bank of Luverne with all bank locations participating.