Dale H. Matus

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Memorials may be directed to Palisade Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer's Association, or a local community hospice care program.

Dale Herbert Matus was born May 24, 1934 to Frank and Amy (Aaker) Matus in a small house on a farm outside of Ruthton, Minnesota. At age 7, his family moved to a farm near Beaver Creek, Minnesota where he was raised and enjoyed playing and fishing in the creek that ran along his farm. He attended and graduated from Beaver Creek High School in 1952, where he was awarded Homecoming King his senior year. Though the couple wasn’t yet together, his future wife of 60 years, Darlene, was Homecoming Queen. After high school, Dale enlisted into the U.S. Marines and was active for nearly 3 years. He arrived in Korea the day the war ended. After his short tour to Korea he was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Upon returning to the Midwest, he worked as a teller at a bank in Chicago before moving back to Minnesota to become a farm hand. He earned extra money trapping throughout the year. Darlene kept in contact with Dale during his time in the service, and the couple was united in marriage February 15, 1958 at Luverne United Methodist Church. Dale began farming with $600 in his pocket and worked hard through some difficult years to build a successful farm. He and Darlene made an excellent team, raising three boys together. Though a tough father at times, his love was never doubted by his sons and he was certainly proud of each of them. He worked on his farm until his retirement at age 65, but that didn’t slow him down. He and Darlene purchased a cabin in 1983 on Eagle Lake in Ontario Canada. They made regular trips for fishing, moose hunting, snowmobiling and card games with friends and neighbors. After retirement, Dale had time to be even more adventurous. He and his Canadian neighbor, Len Suomo, planned a snowmobile trip to Churchill to see polar bears crossing the ice on the Hudson Bay. A trip full of stories and memories. Dale led guided fishing trips through the years, many with his sons. On their 50th wedding anniversary, the couple went on a snowmobiling trip to Jackson Hole Wyoming bringing their entire family including children and grandchildren. Darlene preceded him in death on November 28, 2018. Dale then moved to Sheldon, Iowa where he had been staying at an assisted living center. He died peacefully on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at the Sanford Sheldon Care Center.

Dale was a member of Palisade Lutheran Church in Garretson, South Dakota. He was known as a man’s man; a man everyone wanted to follow. He loved to be outdoors, fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling in particular. He was also a loving and caring father, though he did have high expectations of his children. He was always very gentle with his grandchildren and was always glad to spend time with them. He was known for working hard but also playing hard well into his older years.

Dale is lovingly remembered by his three sons and their families, Todd Matus of Beaver Creek, and his daughter Heather Matus of Carrollton, Georgia, and Todd’s special friend, Tammy Makram of Luverne, and her son Mason Makram of Los Angeles, California, Dan and Shanelle Matus of Sheldon, Iowa, and their children, Todd Helmers, Trista Helmers, and Tamsyn Matus all of Sheldon, Tim and Lori Matus of San Antonio, Texas, and their children Derek Matus of New York City, New York, Luke Matus of San Antonio, Kyra Matus of Boston, and Lorin Burton, Lexi Burton, and Landon Burton, all of San Antonio; and his brothers, Charles (Dottie) Matus of Garretson, and Donald Matus of West Des Moines, Iowa. Dale was preceded in death by his wife Darlene Matus; and his parents.