Dale Russell

Dale E. Russell was born December 9, 1915 to Ira and Emma Russell on a farm near Platte, South Dakota. He was their only child. The family moved to Platte in 1923 where Dale graduated from Platte High School in 1934. He played trombone in the school band. He was interested in amateur radio and qualified for an Amateur Radio License in 1934. Dale was employed at the Puritis Bakery in Platte in 1934 until he left to attend radio school in Port Arthur, Texas in 1937. He graduated after completing his training in Meteorology, Commercial Radio Theory and other associated subjects. He obtained the FCC Commercial Radio Phone and Telegraph licenses in 1938. Dale enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Radioman from 1936-1940. He received training at the Great Lakes Naval Station and was discharged with a rank of Radioman 2nd Class. In 1938, he was employed as an announcer and engineer at KWTN in Watertown. Dale was instrumental in getting KWAT Radio on the air in 1940 and worked as an announcer and program director. Dale married Dorothy Palm October 10, 1940 at Watertown, South Dakota. Dorothy passed away February 25, 1997. In 1942, Dale was employed as Airways Communications Specialist with the Civil Aeronautics Administration at Overton, Nebraska and transferred to the CAA Station in Sioux Falls 6 months later. Dale became a F.A.A. traffic controller at Foss Field from 1953 until retirement in 1971. Dale also served as the training supervisor and radiological monitor at the facility. After retirement, he was self-employed in installation of window treatments for a number of years with several interior decorators. Dale was active in the Boy Scout programs, serving as assistant Scoutmaster of troop 39 in 1944. He was instrumental in organizing the first Air Scout Squadron in Sioux Council. This senior Scout program enjoyed a national citation for excellence as Air Scout Squadron 539 under his leadership. He also served as Merit Badge councilor, committeeman for Cub Pack 3 and as Sioux Council and John Bradford District Training Instructor for adult scouts after completing the courses himself. Dale was engaged in amateur radio and had contacted operators in 340 different countries and islands around the world. He was a member of Sioux Empire Amateur Radio Club, Society of Wireless Pioneers and American Radio Relay League. Dale was a member of Hilltop United Methodist Church. Grateful for sharing his life are his children, Roger (Roberta) Russell ,Hartford, SD and Janice (Dave) Munkvold , Spicer, MN; four grandchildren, Roger (Judy) Russell II , Sioux Falls, SD, Renee (Ron) Ullom , Brandon, SD, Jesse (Kathy) Munkvold , Rockville, MD, and Jennifer Munkvold ,Los Angeles, CA; great grandchildren, Adam ,Haley, Emily, Shelby, Kolbi, Elsa and numerous other family and friends. Due to an error on our part, Dale's obituary was unable to be placed on our website prior to the funeral service - Doug Houseman, Chapel Hill Funeral Home