Funeral services for 71-year old Dale Kyser are Tues, Jan 9, 2024 at 10:00 at the Tiger Den in Lewellen, NE
A public viewing precedes the funeral starting at 9:00.
A private burial will take place Thurs, Jan 11, at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, south of Crookston.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to the family to be used to a charity or scholarship of their choice at a later date.
Online condolences may be left at bondegardfunerals.com
Dale Ray Kyser was born on July 29, 1952, to his parents Roy and Lucille Kyser of Hay Springs, NE, and passed away Dec 29, 2023.
Dale was the 6th child in the family with one brother and 4 sisters. He was baptized in Dec 1959 at the First United Methodist Church in Hay Springs and was raised in a Christian home. Over his life, he lived in Hay Springs, Chadron, Torrington (Wyoming), Ainsworth, Brule, Oshkosh, Valentine, and Green River (Wyoming).
Dale’s childhood and teen years were spent in the Hay Springs school system, where he participated in a variety of sports all year round. He also learned at a young age indoor skills – how to play the accordion and piano – and outdoor skills – hunting and fishing.
Dale graduated from Hay Springs High School in May 1970 and went to college at Chadron State College, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Education. He ran on the CSC track team and was a member of the CSC Fellowship of Christian Athletes.Â
Dale’s first teaching job was in Ainsworth, followed by positions in Brule, Oshkosh, Valentine, and for decades in Green River. While doing that, he also earned a Masters degree in Guidance Counseling from CSC..
On November 15, 1972, Dale lost his left leg above the knee in a PTO accident south of Hay Springs. After that, he coached summer basketball camps in Chicago and Nashville, giving motivational talks and sharing his love of the sport with players at all levels.
While teaching, Dale pursued a career in coaching basketball, cross country, and track. He was awarded the Wyoming Coaches Association 40 Years of Service Award in 2014-2015. He also shared his passion for hunting with many kids and adults as a Hunter Safety instructor.
Less than a year after losing his leg, Dale married Carol Jane Riege on June 24, 1973, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Crookston and they went on to share 50 years together.
Two daughters were born to this union: Cheryl Kaye in 1980 and CarrieLynn in 1984. They grew up in Garden County, tagging along on adventures with their dad to Lake McConaughy, the goose pit, and anywhere else their 1978 Chevy Blazer would take them.
Dale had interests in hunting and fishing, farming and ranching, sports, and pets. He respected all facets of nature: the scenery, the wildlife, and the seasons.
Hunting and fishing were his life-long passions, and he especially enjoyed when he could share those times in nature with others.
He admired the farming and ranching ways of life, playing a part in haying, harvesting, riding and breaking horses, and fixing fence.
Sports were a daily part of Dale’s life, whether it was sledding down the schoolhouse hill as a kid, water skiing with his artificial leg, teaching physical education, participating in high school sports, coaching students, target shooting, or watching televised events.
He understood the dynamics of sports and the enrichment that athletics could bring to people at all levels.Â
For pets, Dale always had a dog by his side and kitties around to entertain him and Carol. He passed the love of all his interests to his daughters and the many high school students he met as a guidance counselor and coach over the years.
Dale is survived by his wife Carol of Oshkosh; daughters Cheryl Kyser Rolf (Jon Rolf) of Wood River, NE, and Carrie Kyser Weeks (Matt Weeks) of Lewiston, ID; granddaughter Chloe Weeks of Lewiston; sisters Doris (Elwin) Lawrence of Hay Springs, Bea (Bill) Dinkel of North Platte, NE, Dorothy Kenning of Wichita, KS, Evelyn (Jim) Hougland of Rockford, IL; and brother Keith (Ellen) Kyser of Hay Springs.
He is also survived by his mother-in-law Alice Riege of Cherry County, NE; sister-in-law Kristi Colburn of Valentine, NE; many nieces, nephews, and extended family; numerous teachers, administrators, and coaches; great hunting and fishing buddies; and countless friends.
Family preceding Dale in death include his parents; father-in-law Leonard Riege of Crookston; and brothers-in-law Keith Colburn of Valentine and Robert Kenning of Crawford.
Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations of Oshkosh is serving the family of Dale Kyser.