KEARNEY - Dale E. Andersen, 86, of Kearney died Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at his home.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Main officiating. Burial will be later at Kearney Cemetery.

He was born Jan. 11, 1927, in Seneca to Ernest W. and Verna E. (Yost) Andersen.

In 1947, he married Anna "Grace" Rodewald.

Survivors include his beloved Grace; son, Myron Andersen and Ruth Gove; daughter, Patty DeFrance and her husband, Jerry; grandchildren, Chad Andersen and his wife, Tracy, Stacy Andersen Bivona and her husband, Blake, and Audra DeFrance Gilman and her husband, Brian; great-grandchildren, Owen, Tripp and Tye Andersen, Chase and Brandt Gilman and Cash Bivona; sisters, Char Taylor and her husband, Loren, and Kay Wolfenden and her husband, Leroy; brothers, Bill and his wife, June, Wes and Jim; and many wonderful cousins, nephews, nieces, friends and neighbors.

He died after a year and one-half's illness.

He was one of 15 children in his family. Dale learned many fine things from his dad, not the least of which was the value of hard work, a great deal of hard work. He attended grade school and high school in Seneca where he met and fell in love with Anna Grace Rodewald, and she was to be his forever "country girl."

Early in his working career, Dale worked with his dad in his tank wagon business. He also worked for Burlington Northern Railroad until 1949, when the advent of the diesel train engines reduced the roundhouse gang. Dale next learned heavy equipment operation with Roberts Construction Co. out of Lincoln. With their new trailer house in tow, they were able to move with the company.

Myron was born in 1950, and with the birth of Patty in 1952, the family was temporarily complete. They settled in Broken Bow, and Dale went to work for the Custer County Highway Department. He remained with Custer County and retired as shop foreman 40 years later.

In 1958, Dale and Grace purchased a small grocery store in Broken Bow. The store was largely staffed by Grace and his kids, with generous help from Dad on weekends and evenings. Eventually, the store was sold, and the Arrow Carwash was added to keep everyone busy.

They were happy and proud when both children graduated from college in Kearney and went on to successful careers and wonderful families and expanded their family to include three grandchildren and six great-grandsons.

Dale and his wife retired in 1992 and enjoyed traveling, with their first adventure being to Alaska. With their enthusiasm for Nebraska winters waning, they wintered in Fredericksburg, Texas, for 15 years. In 2002, they built a new home in Kearney to be near family. He was a proud member of First United Methodist Church.

Dale enjoyed a good life … a long and a very happy life before he was called home. He wanted his family and friends to be reminded of that.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Joyce, Mae McLaughlin and Verna Ellajean; and brothers, Gerald, Don DeVern, Edwin, Jack, Larry Yost and Dennis Yost.

Published in Kearney Hub from April 20 to April 21, 2013