Dale E. Gillming, age 82 passed away January 26, 2009 in the Rapid City Regional Hospital following back surgery, not related to his passing. Services will be Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the Christ Community Church in Crawford at 10:00 AM with Pastor Eldon Mincks and Pastor Sonny White officiating. Burial will be at the Crawford Cemetery. 

 

Dale was born July 7, 1926 to Irvin and Anna Mildred (Williams) Gillming. He was the oldest of six children. Dale was born and raised in the Kearney area where he lived until he was old enough to join the Army in 1943. After he served his term with the Army he returned to farming in the Hazard area, and also drove truck hauling livestock for many years. In 1947, he married his first wife Norma Zinnel.  In 1969, he met and married his second wife Patricia. They moved to Crawford in 1970 where they ran “Audrey’s Café” for several years. He was then employed at ABC Electric as an electrician’s apprentice.

 

Soon to follow he was employed by REA (NWRPPD) as a lineman and retired from there in the mid 80’s to drive truck again. He was a loyal member of the Crawford Eagles Club Aerie 3601 and managed it for a few years. Dale was also the past President three times. In the early 90’s he decided that he wanted to run a restaurant. He and Pat lived in Whitney and ran the “Whitney Café” for a couple years, then ventured back into Crawford to take over the “Down Town Café” only to retire from the restaurant business to drive truck again. If Dale wasn’t hauling food he was cooking it. In the late 90’s, he drove truck for Saxton Construction up until 2002 when a large COW injured him on the job. That was the beginning of his failing health. Soon after, Dale’s kidneys failed and his heart was failing. His wife Pat became his primary caregiver for over seven years transporting him to the VA in Hot Springs, SD three to five times a week for dialysis treatments and doctor appointments.

 

Dale bowled for many years and was happy when he was with his family, driving tractors, riding horseback, driving semis and hauling livestock.