Dale Eugene Lunsford

Dale Eugene Lunsford, 83, of Deary, died Wednesday May 29, 2019, at home surrounded by his family.  Dale was born on September 15, 1935, in Troy Idaho, to Jesse R and Irma Kleer Lunsford.  He came home to live in a new house on Mica Mountain Road, where his parents and he shared his life with his Grandfather Fred.  As an only child, he loved riding his horse, Kit, on Vassar Meadows from the age of 9, and traveled through Montana and to Yellowstone Park with his grandfather.  In 1953, he graduated from Deary High School, and went to work farming for Merle Harlow of Colfax for several months.  Later that year, he turned 18 and began his career as a log scaler with Potlatch Forests.

Dale married Irene Proctor on May 18, 1957.  Over the next few years, they had three children, Jay, Kim and Rex.  In 1971, his father Jesse passed away, and Dale returned to take care of the family farm & cattle full-time.  He enjoyed taking the family on long road trips through the Western U.S., attending his kid’s sporting events and regular visits to Dworshak Dam as it was being built.  In 1975, Dale suffered a stroke which changed his life.  Although he had numerous health problems and surgeries over the years, he would always work hard at getting better.  He was eventually able to return to scale for the State of Idaho until knee surgeries required retirement at 62.  He praised his family for always being there for him.

 Over the years, Dale and Irene traveled to many places and states, including Alaska, Hawaii and Washington D.C.  They frequently traveled to the ocean on the Oregon and Washington coasts, and especially enjoyed the Lincoln City area.  Another favorite of Dale’s was the Western art at the Charles Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana.  Their trips often included a baseball game and at least one rodeo. 

He is survived by his wife, Irene of 62 years, his mother Irma, who last fall celebrated her 100th birthday, his son Jay of Liberty Lake, WA, daughter Kim of Moscow and his son Rex (Noreen) of Moscow, his grandchildren, Eric Lunsford (Amy), Staci Lunsford McKay (Josh), Jordan Lunsford (Ric Sanchez), Evan Berkman, Nina Berkman, Cory Weller and Sheridyn Weller Youngblood (Wyatt), and his great-grandchildren Brendan, Eliza, Ki’erra, Emmy and Milo.

Thank you to Dr. Robert Ting & the nurses at Moscow Family Medicine, Dr. Williams at Kootenai Heart Clinic, Dr. Black and Marie with Elite Hospice, and Ed Harkins at Aspen Care for all the care you have given Dale over the years.

A memorial service will be held by the family over Labor Day weekend on the meadow he loved on the family farm.

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