Homedale High School

Class of 1965

    Parents of Bruce Gilbert

Idaho Press-Tribune

May 3, 2001

      Dale A. Gilbert

      Dale A. Gilbert, 78, of Nampa, died Monday, April 30, 2001, at a Nampa hospital of natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 4, at Evergreen Heights, 701 N. Indiana, Caldwell. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell.

      Dale was born April 24, 1923, at Wilder, to Ernest and Helga Dyer Gilbert. He attended Homedale schools where he excelled academically and was an outstanding athlete. He held the district record in the 440 yard dash for 17 years.

      Early in his working life, Dale vowed that he would never “pack a lunch bucket” and he remained self-employed all of his life. He married Fern June Zabel on Nov. 25, 1943. They lived in Wilder for several years where their six children were born. In 1959, they moved to Grandview, where they reared their children, owned and operated several farms and raised row crops, alfalfa seed and cattle. Dale and Fern retired from farming in 1978 and moved to Nampa. They later divorced.

      In March of 1983, Dale married Darlena J. Surdam and together they enjoyed 18 happy years of marriage. They kept busy maintaining their rental homes in and around Nampa. They loved traveling, camping, boating, snowmobiling and vacationing with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dale also enjoyed gardening, painting and working with wood in his workshop.

      Dale is survived by his wife, Darlena of Nampa; four sisters, Illa Small and Arlene Knight of Riggins, Ada McIntyre of Greenleaf and Gladys Smith of Boise; five sons, Jerry of Shasta, Calif., Bruce of Nampa, Douglas of Sardina, Ohio, Danny of Meridian and Monte of Williamsburg, Ohio; a daughter, Karen of Nampa; a stepson, Douglas Surdam Sr. of Middleton; a stepdaughter, Kim Parmer of Houston, Texas; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

      He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Goldie Brown; and a great-granddaughter, Hannah Marie Gilbert.

      For those of us who loved and cared for this wonderful man, he will be greatly missed and thought of each and every day with love and affection. Dale will be forever remembered in our hearts and prayers, and his legacy will live on in our children.

      His mind was quick

      His dealings fair

      His hands strong and calloused

      Always willing to do the work

      He done his part.