Funeral Services for O. Dale Kempton, 87, of Peever, SD will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the Peever Lutheran Church in Peever, South Dakota., with the Rev. Sheila Pohl officiating. Organist will be Betty Kempton and soloist will be L.J. Lundstrom. Pallbearers will be Mike Jensen, Cedric Jensen, L.J. Lundstrom, Cody Toutges, Mark Leiseth, and Allen Jarman. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Dale's family & friends. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM with family present from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. There will be visitation one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Saturday. Oliver Dale Kempton was born on March 17, 1925 in Morristown, SD to Oliver and Etola (Brookens) Kempton. They moved to Peever in 1930. He attended grade school and two years of high school at Peever, graduating from Sisseton High School in 1943. Following his education he engaged in farming and ranching with his parents. Dale was united in marriage to Elnora L. Rusch "Susie" on August 31, 1948 in Peever, SD. He completed a Diesel Mechanics course through the Technical Institute of Chicago in 1951. Dale, not only supported youth activities, but was active in Peever Lutheran Church, where he and Susie sang for many funerals; he served as treasurer and a Sunday school teacher. He was a member of Sisseton Corner Squares Dance Club, Peever Community Club, and enjoyed singing with the barbershop chorus. Dale served on the original Sisseton Hospital Board, was a member of Farmers Union Boards, Roberts County Democrat Committee, Agency Township Board (for over 60 years), was an Agency Telephone Company lineman, a road grader and maintenance operator and a general handyman to anyone in need. He served as a Dairy Herd Improvement Tester and was a school bus driver for 35 years serving both the Sisseton and Wilmot school districts. Dale was always a true horseman, but more than a horseman - he was a loyal friend of many. Dale passed away on August 19, 2012 at Coteau Des Prairies Hospital, Sisseton, SD.
Dale is survived by his wife, Elnora L. Kempton "Susie" of Peever, SD; four children, Betty Kempton of St. Paul, MN, Janet and husband, Calvin Sandmeier of Bowdle, SD, James and wife, Lori Kempton of Sheridan, WY, and Peggy Holbrook of Sioux Falls, SD; ten grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and one brother, Virgil Dean and wife, Marilynn Kempton of Gaithersburg, MD.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, and one son, David Orin.