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Dale Matus

Lead Summary

Dale Herbert Matus, 87, Beaver Creek, died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, at the Sanford Sheldon Care Center.
A funeral service was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Palisade Lutheran Church near Garretson, South Dakota. Burial followed at the Palisade Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Dale Matus was born May 24, 1934, to Frank and Amy (Aaker) Matus on a farm near Ruthton. When he was 7, his family moved to a farm near Beaver Creek, where he was raised and attended school. He graduated from Beaver Creek High School in 1952. After high school, Dale enlisted into the U.S. Marines and was active for nearly three years. After a short tour to Korea, he was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Upon returning to the Midwest, he worked as a teller at a bank in Chicago before moving back to Minnesota to become a farm hand.  He earned extra money trapping. 
He married Darlene Emery on Feb. 15, 1958, at Luverne United Methodist Church.  Dale began farming with $600 in his pocket and worked hard to build a successful farm.  He and Darlene worked together, raising three boys. Dale farmed until his retirement at age 65.
He and Darlene purchased a cabin in 1983 on Eagle Lake in Ontario, Canada. They made regular trips for fishing, moose hunting, snowmobiling and card games with friends and neighbors.
He and his Canadian neighbor, Len Suomo, planned a snowmobile trip to Churchill to see polar bears crossing the ice on the Hudson Bay. Dale led guided fishing trips through the years, many with his sons.  On their 50th wedding anniversary, the couple went on a snowmobiling trip to Jackson Hole Wyoming with their entire family.
Darlene preceded Dale in death on Nov. 28, 2018.  He then moved to Sheldon, Iowa, where he resided at an assisted living center until his death.
Dale was a member of Palisade Lutheran Church in Garretson, South Dakota. He was a loving and caring father with high expectations of his children.  He was always glad to spend time with his grandchildren. He was known for working hard but also playing hard well into his older years.
Dale is survived by his three sons and their families, Todd Matus of Beaver Creek and his daughter, Heather Matus, of Carrollton, Georgia, and Todd’s special friend, Tammy Makram of Luverne and her son, Mason Makram, of Los Angeles, California; Dan and Shanelle Matus of Sheldon, Iowa, and their children, Todd Helmers, Trista Helmers, and Tamsyn Matus, all of Sheldon; Tim and Lori Matus of San Antonio, Texas, and their children Derek Matus of New York City, New York, Luke Matus of San Antonio, Kyra Matus of Boston, and Lorin Burton, Lexi Burton, and Landon Burton, all of San Antonio; and his brothers, Charles (Dottie) Matus of Garretson, and Donald Matus of West Des Moines, Iowa.
Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Darlene Matus, and his parents.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
(1118 F)

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