William Dale Klein, age 87 of Tracy, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. A Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Tracy Area Funeral Home. Graveside service will be 1:00 p.m. Sunday, May 12 at the Tracy City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to the Tracy Hospice House. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Retired 1st Sgt. William Dale Klein was born January 14, 1932 to David and Florence (Briaid) Klein in Tracy, Minnesota. He attended District 35 and graduated from Tracy High School. Dale was called to active duty with the local National Guard Unit and served during the Korean Conflict. He worked briefly for Rignell Hardware and then started his career as a Unit Administrator for the Minnesota Army National Guard. Dale then retired and was transferred to active call with the Army Reserve until 1992. He was also self-employed during that time. On July 9, 1951, Dale married Edith Anderson and from this marriage four children were born, Deb, Kathryn, Dale, and Ted. Dale then married Nancy Mielke on December 3, 1986. He was active in community affairs, including Tracy American Legion for 70 years and served as commander. Dale was president of the Tracy Eagles Club and the Tracy Lutheran Church and was the Sunday School superintendent for many years. He enjoyed doing stats for the school and radio comments for over 20 years. Dale also took pride in being the commander of the firing squad for 25 years and served as long as he could. He enjoyed reading, watching sports and going fishing in the summer and winter. Dale loved to spoil his grandchildren.
Dale is survived by his wife Nancy of 33 years; children: Debra (Dwayne) Helleson of Faribault, Kathryn of Shakopee, Dale of Paynesville, Ted (Leslie) of St. Bonifacius; step-daughter Christine (Mike) Schmitt of Milroy; step-son Royce of Alexandria; grandchildren: Chelsea, Ryan, Logan, Evan Klein, Jacob, Megan, John, and Nicholas Schmitt; brothers: Melvin Klein and Lyle (Mary) Ely; and many other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Margaret, brothers David, Elmer, and Richard, brother-in-law Ed Peck, sister-in-law Betty Klein, and grandsons Justin and Dustin Klein. We will always remember and love you. Thank you for being a part of our lives and sharing your love.
My sympathy to the Klein family. I served with Dale in the National Guard for two years when I lived in Tracy. He was a loyal Tracy ite..Of course later on a regular coffee visitor at the Red Rooster. He was one of the pillars of the community. God bless his memory.
Roger Flatequal Sioux Falls S.D.
Ah…. Nancy and my cousins. What can I say? When the Guard went to Camp Rucker, my Mon, Cleone and I followed…..and Dale was there…. When my Mom died, Dale came to the school and got Cleone and I and brought us the bad news and he comforted me. .When I was about 7 or 8, I did something I wasn’t supposed to do, he had warned me, I got a spanking….and then he took me to the Drive-in, a place I had never been. I remember thinking, I liked the Drive-in and I could endure a spanking from time to time if it mean that I could go there again. He did take me a few times after that, but I didn’t need to get in trouble to go. Dale was there. As I grew up, he was always there. Whenever the family or friends really needed anything…Dale was there. I moved from Tracy several years ago, and when I got back to Tracy, I would try to see him on occasion……sometime he was there. Sometimes it was good conversation and sometimes good BS….but it was Dale. There were good times and may have been some bad times, but I will ALWAYS remember Dale. Bless his Memory!