Dale Henry Hockemeyer passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at Long Prairie Health Care Center at the age of 95. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church and the Rosary will be prayed at 9:45 AM. Burial and full Military Honors will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery in Long Prairie, MN immediately following the service.

Dale Henry Hockemeyer was welcomed into this world on August 19, 1929, by his parents, Amos and Leona (Claseman) in Long Prairie, MN. He grew up on the family farm with his two siblings where they “walked uphill both ways” each day to Country School. He started working at Hart Press in Long Prairie as a press operator for three years before he enlisted in the Army. Dale was ranked Sergeant First Class and worked as a Tank Commander until his honorable discharge in 1952. He returned to Long Prairie and continued working at Hart Press until his retirement in 1991.

Dale’s life changed forever the night he gave Elizabeth “Betty” Stephan a ride home from the local dance hall and she left her coat in his car. He reconnected with her to return her coat and the rest was history. Dale and Betty were married in 1953 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Long Prairie. The couple was blessed with 4 children, Greg, Michael, Diane, and Lisa. Dale was a wonderful dad who worked hard to provide for his family and always put them first.

Dale and Betty loved to travel together throughout the United States and they also traveled with their children to chaperone their band trips. Smart, kind, loving, generous, and God-fearing are just a few words that can be used to describe Dale. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he was on the cemetery board, head usher, and a member of Knights of Columbus. Dale couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stop at a garage sale and often left with something to fix up and give to someone else. Dale was a handyman and even helped his son, Mike, build his home. He was passionate about deer hunting and loved to fish in his boat, especially for sunfish.

Dale is survived by his wife, Betty Hockemeyer; children, Greg (Luann) Hockemeyer, Michael (Laurie) Hockemeyer, Diane (Ray) Becker, and Lisa (Ron) Chapin; grandchildren, Adam and Chad Hockemeyer, Mike and Matt Becker, Sara Hanson, and Christian and Maggie Chapin; and 6 great-grandchildren.