Logelin, Dale Benjamin

Written by ECA Review

1940 ~ 2016
Dale was born in Hanna July 25, 1940 and after one of his healthiest, happiest summers in many years, he passed away Sept. 21, 2016 in the Hanna Long Term Care.
During the first few years of his life he lived in Richdale, AB.  When Dale and his parents moved to Youngstown, his brothers Terry and Randy were born. He went to school in Youngstown but at a very early age he decided to go out into the working world.
Dale’s first jobs were working for seismic companies and on oil rigs.  He had many interesting stories during these years and met friends who became life long friends. Dale also drove gravel truck for Red Manion for a while and worked for Special Areas during these bachelor years.
On Nov. 17, 1962 he married Emily May Evelyn MacKinnon. He was working at Dale’s Esso Service (Dale Laughlin) at this time.  He continued to work there for two more years. In 1963 Roger Lynn was born and Terry-Dale in 1964.
In 1965 Dale went back to working for  Special Areas.  For the next five years or so Dale, May, Roger and Terry-Dale spent the summer months out on the Special Areas road crew.
Dale operated the elevator grader then became crew foreman.  May was the cook.
Roger and Terry-Dale have some good memories of these years.  Roger was ready to start school so their time on the road crew came to an end.
In 1970 Dale started apprenticing with Special Areas to become a welder. William Todd Christopher was born in 1971, and was “the apple of Dale and May’s eyes”. They enjoyed travelling with him to his many sports interests.  Todd played minor hockey in Hanna and some years Dale was one of the coaches.
Many life long friends were formed during these years.
In 1979 Perry and Colleen Laughlin came to live with the family and May and Dale took on the role as parents to them also and they became part of the family.
It was a busy household during those years with four teenagers and Todd in the house.  Dale and May both worked very hard to support the family.
Fastball was also a special interest in Dale’s life during these years.  Dale both played and coached and the family enjoyed travelling with the team and camping. After fastball came slow pitch; the family being part of the infamous Log Roy Slow Pitch team.
Many wonderful years were spent camping and playing ball with the Log Roy team.  Unlimited memories were made.
In their pre retirement years, Dale and May enjoyed a few trips to Las Vegas, sometimes they drove, sometimes they would fly.  Dale told many stories of the adventures they would have with Herb and Norma Blagen on some of these trips. Some details maybe shouldn’t have been told, but in Dale’s way, he didn’t leave out any details.
In 1995 Dale retired from the Special Areas. His occupation was a welder, but he was a farmer/rancher at heart which started when he was very young and he would go out and work for Delbert Laughlin.  He loved to get out on the land and help his farmer friends.
After his retirement he worked for some farmers in the area, such as, the Andrew’s, Johnny Laughlin, the Hamptons, Teresa Berry and a few others. He did this until he officially retired at the age of 65.
Dale also did a three year term as a councilman for the Village of Youngstown. He especially liked representing the Village on the Regional Water commission.
Dale was also a member of the Elks Clubs when it was active in Youngstown.  He enjoyed all the socializing and helping the community that went along with that.
After May passed away in 2003, Dale continued to live in Youngstown in their “1976 dream home” for the next 12 years.  He enjoyed spending time with his family, working in his garden and looking after his great raspberry patch.
Dale loved being outside and spent many hours sitting on his deck.  He loved it when family or friends would come by and have a cold one with him.  He always made sure he had everyone’s beverage preference.  Dale was a very, very generous man.
After a few years of being alone, Dale found a special friendship with Shirley Romanko (Bertsch). Shirley was also once a friend of May’s.
Due to failing health, Dale decided to sell the family home in 2015. He lived in Cereal for a few months, before spending a couple months in the Hanna Hospital, and eventually moving to the Long Term Care in Hanna December 2015.
Dale leaves behind to mourn his children, Roger Logelin and Candy Jo Logelin, Terry-Dale (Greg) Olsen, Todd (Sheila) Logelin, Melody “Sam” Laughlin, Colleen Laughlin (Gene Roy), Perry Laughlin (Colleen Feeney), special friend Shirley Romanko.
Also his grandchilden, Scott Olsen, Stephanie (Brandon) Sweere, Fraser Olsen (Kate-Lynn Siray), Cassidy Logelin (Richard Slack), Blaine Laughlin, Nolan and Maxwell Logelin.
Great grandchildren, Dani May and Olive Sweere as well as step granddaughter/great grandchildren, Karyn (Tom VanOtterloo) Kallie and Kayci Caskey and Michael Siray.
Also mourning are his brothers and sisters-in-law; Terry (Judy) Logelin, Randy (Shelley) Logelin, Edith Cote and Elizabeth (Betty) MacKinnon; and one aunt Lois Smereka.  Also a godchild, Sheila (Juhlke) Muller and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dale was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, May Logelin, his parents, Ben and Ev Logelin, brothers and sisters-in-law, June and Mervin Laughlin, WGB (Jock) MacKinnon and Jack Cote; and May’s parents Emily and William Gordon MacKinnon.
A service of remembrance will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Youngstown Community Hall. Interment will take place following the service at the Youngstown Cemetery.
Donations in Dale’s memory can be made directly to: The Youngstown Community Hall, Box 4, Youngstown, AB, T0J 3P0 or The Hanna Ladies Auxiliary, Box 23, Hanna, AB, T0J 1P0.
Heartland Funeral Services Ltd, Hanna, entrusted with arrangements. A Division of Central Alberta Family Funeral Services, 403-854-2758, www.heartlandfuneralservices.com

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