Dale Douglas Boelter, 83, Rochester
Dale Douglas Boelter Sr., 83, a resident of Rochester, MN, passed away on Friday (February 21, 2025) of natural causes, with family by his side at Mayo Clinic Rochester - Methodist Campus.
Dale Douglas Boelter Sr., was born October 14, 1941 on a farm in Salem Township, rural Byron. Dale was the second oldest of four children born to Mansfield August and Mary Ann Josephine (Viker) Boelter. He grew up and worked on the family farm where they were crop and dairy farmers. He attended the old country school and graduated in 1959 from Byron HS. One of his first jobs was working at the local turkey factory until he started in the masonry business. He worked for Weis Builders gaining valuable experience and started his own business – Dale Boelter Masonry. He and his crew took pride in building residential and commercial fireplaces, basements, brick fronts and also worked on many expansion projects such as the Hormel Co. in Austin. Dale married Sharon Godfrey on July 20, 1962. The couple lived in Rochester before moving to a farm between Oslo and Rock Dell. Dale suffered a severe head injury on Thanksgiving Day in 1980. His recuperation was long, difficult and miraculous, which left him with aphasia – conversations were difficult – a condition he lived with for 45 years. He and Sharon moved to Florida for a few years where he loved to fish and walk on the beaches. They then returned to Rochester.
Dale was a life-long member of East St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Rock Dell. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting coons with his trained coon dogs and pheasants with his golden retrievers. Deer hunting with his son brought great joy. Fishing was another huge enjoyment and he often went to local spots such as the Mississippi River and Lake Boelter. He loved watching the Minnesota Vikings and Twins, playing cards and was a checkers’ wizard. He enjoyed going to the casino and taking long country drives while listening to old-time music. Dale was described by many as having a great sense of humor, fun to be around - a kind person, with a great personality and smile, who would give the shirt off his back. He loved spending time with his family.
Dale is survived by his four children Tammy Bernatz of Lake City, Teresa Saxon (Loren) of Glenville, Dale Boelter Jr. (Lynn Holtorff) of Hayfield, and Dawn (Cory) Kyllo of Hayfield; 8 grandchildren Nicholas (Miri) Bernatz, Brandon (Aubrey) Bernatz, Krystle Bernatz (Joe Andrist), Zachary Bernatz (Abby Wigham), Deanna Boelter (John Searls), Tanner Boelter (Cally Heiny), Carter Kyllo and Brady Kyllo; 8 great-grandchildren Branson, Ambrey, Izabel, Ryker, Paisley, Lakelyn, Brooks and Ella; his brother Terry Boelter of Byron; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon, brothers Mark and Gary Boelter, and his parents.
The funeral service for Dale will be at 11:00 AM on Friday (February 28, 2025) at East St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Rock Dell, 6200 CR-3 (County Road-3) SW, Byron, MN with Rev. Kristin Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7:30 PM on Thursday (February 27, 2025) at Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Friday morning. Condolences and memories of Dale are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com.