DALE GOREHAM
Dale Goreham, age 90, died peacefully surrounded by family, on October 11, 2021. Services will be held in at St John de Britto Catholic Church in Britton, SD on October 18, 2021 at 2 pm. Father Richard Baumberger will preside over the Catholic Mass.
Dale Boyd Goreham, son of Norris and Marith (Waage) Goreham, was born on May 11, 1931 on a farm near Britton, SD. Dale married the love of his life, Eileen Schalz, in Biloxi, MS on April 19, 1952, where he was stationed in the Air Force. Dale was later assigned to Johnson Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan. After 4 years in the Air Force, Dale (Airman First Class) returned to the family farm in Langford, SD with his wife, Eileen, and their son, Gary.
Dale attended college at South Dakota State University (SDSU), graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education (1959). Dale taught vocational agriculture in Eagle Butte, SD and Clark, SD while attending SDSU to obtain a Master’s Degree in Education and Administration in 1963. In 1965, Dale accepted a position with the Farmer’s Home Administration (FmHA), a program under the direction of the United States Department of Agriculture, making loans to farmers.
Dale, Eileen, and their family eventually moved to De Smet, SD, where they lived for more than 50 years. Dale and Eileen were very involved in the church, the community, and the De Smet Development Corporation. During that time, they built or remodeled 5 different homes.
After 27 years with FmHA, Dale and Eileen (teacher at Laura Ingalls Wilder School), retired and opened an antique shop (The Prairie Antiquers). They operated the antique shop and also traveled to antique shows across the US until 2000.
Dale was always interested in woodworking, building cabinets for his homes, 6 grandfather clocks, cradles for his grandchildren, and the altar and pulpit for St. Thomas Aquinas Church in De Smet. In addition, Dale was an avid woodcarver. He began carving in the late 1970’s and carved hundreds of beautiful works, plus won dozens of awards, including the Best of Show and Peoples’ Choice.
Dale is survived by 4 children who are blessed to call him “dad”: Gary (Jonna) Goreham, Detroit Lakes, MN; Dennis (Shellie) Goreham, Salt Lake City, UT; Marcia (Gary) Borgstadt, Somerset, WI; and Sandy (Max) Ellefson, Mitchell, SD. Dale said he was most proud of his marriage and his children. Dale and Eileen also have 13 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren, with 2 more on the way.
Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen; his parents; 2 sisters, Darlene and Janice; and a brother, Lyle.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Parkinson’s Disease Association.
Services entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson, WI. www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com