Dale McDowell

Dale was born July 9, 1935 near Luverne, MN, the son of W. Earl McDowell and Florence Hoyme. He learned to fly on the McDowell Sky Ranch when he was 11 years old. His first flight was September 15, 1945 in a Champion airplane. Dale married his soul mate Rose Mary Heesch on November 25, 1953 at the United Methodist Church in Luverne, MN. They farmed for a year near Garretson, SD befre moving to Sioux Falls. Dale joined the SDANG in 1952 and worked in the Motor Pool and then became the Motor Pool Supervisor. He then took a position as a field maintenance worker at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport for five years. Dale returned to the SDANG and became a Senior Master Sergeant and was the Electrical Superintendent of the electronics crew. He also maintained the runway barrier pits. Dale retired in 1988. Dale had also hauled milk for Lakeside Dairy for a number of years and repaired vehicles in his garage. His garage was so clean you could eat of the floor and use his tools as a spoon, fork and knife. He was the mechanic for the number 0 racecar driven by Bud Burger. Dale was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and a motor cycle escort with Shriners. He played on the SDANG slow pitch softball team and won a state championship in 1965. Dale proudly flew the American flag every day and night. Dale is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rosy; three children, Raymond Pete of Sioux Falls, Diann (Tim) McDowell-Blair of Salt Lake City, UT, Bruce (Pam) of Sioux Falls; five grandchildren, SSgt Dale (Msgt Amandia) McDowell, Robert (Rhianne) Giudice, Jr., Crystal (Jonathan) Giudice-Murray, Bruce (Alyssa) McDowell, Jr., and Miranda McDowell; and nine great grandchildren.