Dale Mooney
d. August 12, 2022
Dale Wayne Mooney of Montevideo, died August 12, 2022, at the age of 77, in Sioux Falls, SD.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 21, 2022, at 1pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo, with Pastor Jeff Fitzkappes officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo.
Visitation with the family will be Saturday, August 20, 2022, from 2-4 pm at Wing-Bain Funeral Home in Montevideo.
Dale was born in Montevideo, MN, to Harry and Ruby (Shuldt) Mooney on June 21, 1945. He was baptized and confirmed at Stony Run Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, MN. Dale grew up working on the family farm alongside his brother Danny, and spent many summers causing mischief with cousins, nieces, and nephews. He graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1963. He worked at Johnny’s Supermarket in Montevideo until he was drafted in 1965. He completed advanced training as a military policeman in Fort Gordon, GA, and was stationed in White Sands, NM. While on leave, he married his high school sweetheart Sharon Erickson on June 18, 1966. They made their home in White Sands, NM, until he was deployed to Vietnam. His first assignment in Saigon was working for a USO Show featuring Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller, whom he had the opportunity of meeting. Later he was assigned as a driver for high ranking MP officials, including General William Westmoreland, who was in charge of the entire Vietnam operation. He would make weekly trips to the nearby orphanage where he would play games with the children and bring gifts he had received from home.
Dale moved back to Montevideo after he was discharged from the Army. He worked for Gibson’s, where he met Jim Dahlvang. Together they started DJ’s Champion Auto and Sporting Goods in 1974. After the death of Sharon, Dale would eventually sell his half of DJ’s to Jim, and would go to work for Ladner’s True Value in Granite Falls, eventually setting up their Southtown Plaza location in Montevideo. In 1986, he married Sandi Hadrath. Dale also worked in advertising sales for the Star Advisor, Western Peach, and American News, and became the Advertising Sales Manager. In 2007, he along with Kurt Dahl began their stint as volunteer promotors for the Fiesta City Speedway. He drove bus for the City of Montevideo, was a part-time job coach for Heartland Industries, and was the groundskeeper for the Chippewa County Fairgrounds for 27 years. He made many lifelong friendships along the way.
His hobbies included building and restoring classic cars, and used his artistic talents to paint and hand letter race cars before vinyl wraps were introduced. He was one to always downplay his artistic abilities, but anyone who saw the murals inside his shop, or the tailgate of his ’55 GMC back in the day, knew otherwise. Dale was an outdoorsman, spending many hours in the deer stand with his bow, waiting for that prize buck to come along. More than the hunt itself, Dale loved the camaraderie with his extended family hunting party. Even after he could no longer pull his bow back, he would still grab his spot in the woods and just watch and listen. He was proud of his granddaughter Morgan, who shared his same philosophy of waiting for the “big one” before taking a shot. He was so proud the year she shot her first deer. He loved watching all of his grandkids in their extracurricular activities, whether it was on the court, in the pool, or in the horse arena. He spent endless hours in the water truck, making sure the track was perfect each week for the races, and worked hard at improving the track every chance he could. You could find him each week in the stands watching the races with friends and family.
Dale was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Montevideo, was involved with Ducks Unlimited, was a fishing derby volunteer, member of both the American Legion Post 59 and VFW Post 380, a Special Olympics coach, Fiesta City Speedway Board Member, and Chippewa County Fair Board Member.
Dale is survived by his daughter Jeanna (Nathan) Schmidt of Montevideo; grandchildren Morgan, Chase & Leighton Schmidt, Brother Danny (Rosalene) Mooney of Granite Falls, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dale is also survived by special friend Stacey Hoidal of Montevideo, and her children Quinn and Mackenzie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, half-sisters Jean Cleveland and Shirley Weingartner, and niece Julia Hadrath.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 21, 2022, at 1pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo, with Pastor Jeff Fitzkappes officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo.
Visitation with the family will be Saturday, August 20, 2022, from 2-4 pm at Wing-Bain Funeral Home in Montevideo.
Dale was born in Montevideo, MN, to Harry and Ruby (Shuldt) Mooney on June 21, 1945. He was baptized and confirmed at Stony Run Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, MN. Dale grew up working on the family farm alongside his brother Danny, and spent many summers causing mischief with cousins, nieces, and nephews. He graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1963. He worked at Johnny’s Supermarket in Montevideo until he was drafted in 1965. He completed advanced training as a military policeman in Fort Gordon, GA, and was stationed in White Sands, NM. While on leave, he married his high school sweetheart Sharon Erickson on June 18, 1966. They made their home in White Sands, NM, until he was deployed to Vietnam. His first assignment in Saigon was working for a USO Show featuring Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller, whom he had the opportunity of meeting. Later he was assigned as a driver for high ranking MP officials, including General William Westmoreland, who was in charge of the entire Vietnam operation. He would make weekly trips to the nearby orphanage where he would play games with the children and bring gifts he had received from home.
Dale moved back to Montevideo after he was discharged from the Army. He worked for Gibson’s, where he met Jim Dahlvang. Together they started DJ’s Champion Auto and Sporting Goods in 1974. After the death of Sharon, Dale would eventually sell his half of DJ’s to Jim, and would go to work for Ladner’s True Value in Granite Falls, eventually setting up their Southtown Plaza location in Montevideo. In 1986, he married Sandi Hadrath. Dale also worked in advertising sales for the Star Advisor, Western Peach, and American News, and became the Advertising Sales Manager. In 2007, he along with Kurt Dahl began their stint as volunteer promotors for the Fiesta City Speedway. He drove bus for the City of Montevideo, was a part-time job coach for Heartland Industries, and was the groundskeeper for the Chippewa County Fairgrounds for 27 years. He made many lifelong friendships along the way.
His hobbies included building and restoring classic cars, and used his artistic talents to paint and hand letter race cars before vinyl wraps were introduced. He was one to always downplay his artistic abilities, but anyone who saw the murals inside his shop, or the tailgate of his ’55 GMC back in the day, knew otherwise. Dale was an outdoorsman, spending many hours in the deer stand with his bow, waiting for that prize buck to come along. More than the hunt itself, Dale loved the camaraderie with his extended family hunting party. Even after he could no longer pull his bow back, he would still grab his spot in the woods and just watch and listen. He was proud of his granddaughter Morgan, who shared his same philosophy of waiting for the “big one” before taking a shot. He was so proud the year she shot her first deer. He loved watching all of his grandkids in their extracurricular activities, whether it was on the court, in the pool, or in the horse arena. He spent endless hours in the water truck, making sure the track was perfect each week for the races, and worked hard at improving the track every chance he could. You could find him each week in the stands watching the races with friends and family.
Dale was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Montevideo, was involved with Ducks Unlimited, was a fishing derby volunteer, member of both the American Legion Post 59 and VFW Post 380, a Special Olympics coach, Fiesta City Speedway Board Member, and Chippewa County Fair Board Member.
Dale is survived by his daughter Jeanna (Nathan) Schmidt of Montevideo; grandchildren Morgan, Chase & Leighton Schmidt, Brother Danny (Rosalene) Mooney of Granite Falls, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dale is also survived by special friend Stacey Hoidal of Montevideo, and her children Quinn and Mackenzie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, half-sisters Jean Cleveland and Shirley Weingartner, and niece Julia Hadrath.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dale Mooney, please visit our flower store.