Dale Thomas Sonsteng

Dale was born in Glasgow, MT on July 6, 1937, the son of Carl J. and Clarice (Avok) Sonsteng. He was baptized July 16, 1937 at First Lutheran Church of Glasgow by Rev. Harold Siqueland. He spent the first nearly eight years of his life on a farm at Larslan in northeastern Montana. In 1945, his family returned to farm near Benson, MN where both of his parents had grown up. He was confirmed June 22, 1952 at Lake Hazel Lutheran Church by Rev. Gustav Gunsten. Dale graduated from Benson High School in 1955. He completed his basic training with the Army in Fort Leonard Wood, MO and was trained to operate and maintain light military vehicles.

When he was only 26, Dale was in an accident that suddenly changed the course of the remainder of his life. One thing he did not let the accident change was his sense of humor that endeared him to all who knew him. His caretakers can attest to that!

Dale lived in the care of his mother and brothers until his mother’s death in 1987.  After living in several care centers in various places in Minnesota, since 2007 Dale called Southview in Benson home. Dale loved his coffee and cookies served to him when he returned from what he called work at the activity center he attended several days a week. If you were acquainted with Dale, you knew that his main loves in life besides coffee were people, poker, rolling dice, and John Deere tractors!

A special thanks goes to all of the staff, past and present, at Southview in Benson for all of the wonderful care Dale was given that brightened his days.

Dale was called from this life on Monday, May 11, 2020 at home. He is survived by many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Clarice, an infant sister, and brothers Murien and Robert.