Dale Thomas Bush

Dale Thomas Bush, 88, passed away at his home of 50 years in Palmer on April 16, 2013, following a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Dale was born Jan. 12, 1925 in Waubay, S.D., to Corwin and Margaret Bush.

Surviving are his wife, Marge Bush; sister, Betty Lampee of Utah; children, Tom of Sagle, Idaho, Dianne Herold of Colorado Springs, Colo., Clayton of Drummond Island, Mich., Noel Steele of Longview, Wash., and John of Anchorage; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Dale enjoyed traveling and camping with friends and family, rafting Alaska’s many rivers, photographing scenery and woodworking. Dale had long desired to live in Alaska and in 1963 moved to Palmer with his wife, Gloria, and four children.

Dale first worked hauling coal from the Sutton coal mine to Anchorage, then began a long career as a correctional officer at the Palmer Correctional Facility, where he oversaw the wood shop and retired in 1984. He then opened his own business, D&G Hardwood, and sold hardwoods of various types to the woodworking community in Alaska. Dale sold the business in 1994 and traveled with his wife of nearly 53 years, Gloria, until her death in 1999. Dale married his second wife, Marge, in 2000.

A celebration of life is at 2 p.m., April 21 at the Palmer Moose Lodge. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations, in Dale’s name to either the Palmer Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1106, Palmer, AK 99645; or the Alzheimer’s Resources of Alaska, 1750 Abbott Road, Anchorage, AK 99507.