Dale O. Dallegge

Dale Owen Dallegge, 94, of O'Neill, formerly of Bartlett, died Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023 at Avera Creighton Care Center in Creighton to join his beloved Jo Ann in eternal life.

A private celebration will be held for the immediate family at the Bartlett Cemetery in Bartlett. Military honors will be provided by the Wheeler County American Legion Post 107.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill is in charge of the arrangements.

Dale was born Oct. 8, 1928, to Charles and Clara Dallegge in Wheeler County and raised in Wheeler and Holt Counties in Nebraska. Following his 1945 graduation from Wheeler County High School at the age of 16, he worked a variety of jobs in the area. In the spring of 1948, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and received a dependency discharge in the fall of 1949 due to the death of his father. He later served in the U.S. Marines from 1952-1954.

On May 21, 1955, Dale married Jo Ann Martin. Born to their union were daughters Cynthia, Patricia, Debra and Barbara. His family resided in Columbus, Bartlett, Santa Maria, CA and Grand Island before moving permanently to Bartlett in 1965.  

Dale was called to serve as acting postmaster in 1966 and was appointed postmaster on March 19, 1971. He truly enjoyed interacting with the community in this position until his retirement in October 1993.

Dale loved his outdoor hobbies, including hunting, fishing, arrowhead hunting, bird watching, metal detecting and camping. He often shared these activities with his girls and later, with sons-in-law and grandchildren. His fondest times were hunting in the Nebraska Sandhill "blowouts," searching for Native American artifacts. Dale studied the rich history of the Native Americans and loved sharing about their culture on the prairie of Nebraska. He enthusiastically researched the origin of each treasured artifact. 

Dale was thankful for many years of good health, which allowed a lifetime of outdoor activities with friends and family where he felt most connected to God. 

In their retirement, Dale and Jo Ann enjoyed years of extended stays at a beach house at Pismo Beach, CA.  They loved making memories near their California family and friends. 

Back in Nebraska, Dale shared his talents playing guitar and singing with the Elkhorn Valley Fiddlers. The group performed in a variety of venues in central Nebraska, and Jo Ann would accompany them on their "road trips." Dale was pleasantly surprised at how many old friends they bumped into and how many new friends they made at their various gigs. Music was a love language in daily life for the Dallegge family. They often danced, starting with little feet on top of Dale's strong toes or his spontaneously taking Jo or one of his girls for a twirl on the kitchen floor while he whistled or sang. 

Dale spent his last years at The Evergreen Assisted Living Facility, where he was lovingly cared for by staff and his daughter Debbi and family in O'Neill. He was recently transferred to Hospice Care at the Avera Creighton Care Center where he spent his final days under the care of their very kind and attentive staff. 

Dale is survived by his daughters Cindi (Jan) Schmeits and Patti (Kevin) Bridges, all of Omaha, Debbi (Brian) Barelmann of O'Neill and Barbi (Judd) Meneely of Atlantic, Iowa; eight grandchildren Derek Troester, Tia (Mark) McLewee, Kelsey Bridges, Jaime (Jordan) Pieper, Brian D. (April) Barelmann, Dani (Brock) Schueth, Chet (Kasey) Meneely and  Blake Meneely; and three great-grandchildren Owen and Weston Barelmann and Mack Meneely. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and spouses and his wife Jo Ann in 2007 and her parents and siblings.