H. Dale

Matschullat

H. Dale

Matschullat

H. Dale Matschullat, age 90, of O'Neill, passed away early Monday morning, Sept. 10, 2012, at the Golden LivingCenter in O'Neill.

Visitation was held from 6-9 p.m., with a prayer service at 8 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church in O'Neill with Rev. Leanne Masters officiating. Music was provided by Doug Wright.

Pallbearers were Ed Rosner, Jake Gratz, Tyler Hickok, Alvin Heiss, Kris Matschullat, Jason Wiseman, Greg Gallagher and Richard Schrunk.

Burial was in the Orchard Hill Cemetery with military rites conducted by the O'Neill American Legion Simonson Post #93.

Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill were in charge of arrangements.

Dale was born on Feb. 24, 1922, on a family farm near Page, to Otto and Elizabeth Matschullat. He graduated from Page High School and attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. 

Dale was in his third semester at the university when the Army called him to serve in WWII as a Top Kick Sergeant and entered combat in the South Pacific. He left the Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1945 after the war ended and returned to the university where he graduated with his BSBA in accounting.

Shortly after graduation, Dale married Barbara Harrison, whom he met at the university, on Nov. 27, 1948, in Orchard. He spent a short period of time in management at Sears in Moline, IL, before coming back to the home place and taking over the family farm near Page.

Dale and Barbara raised three children, Doug, Joan and Jan and grew the farm into a very successful operation raising Angus cattle and various crops. Dale grew his operation one quarter at a time through hard work and strong financial management. He was a steward of the land and was most proud of the conservation award he and his family received from the Dept. of Natural Resources in 2005.

He most challenging purchase but greatest pride and joy was the Peterson ranch south of Atkinson at the age of 80 with his son, Doug, who joined Dale in the family operation in 1982. The pastures were badly eroded and during the initial reconstruction of the soil and grassland, Dale contracted and survived the West Nile Virus. His health gradually declined thereafter until his death.

Dale's other joy in life came with his children and his grandchildren. He helped coach his son's little league teams and he rarely missed any of his kids' sports or academic events.

Barbara passed away in 1995 and Dale married Elizabeth Ritter in 1997, who gave him companionship during the last few years of his life.

Dale is survived by his wife, Liz of Friendswood, Texas; son, Doug Matschullat and wife, Roberta of Page; two daughters: Joan Nelson and husband, Steve of North Platte and Jan Gratz and husband, Jim of Davidsonville, MD; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and one sister, Luella Chase of Porterville, CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Barbara; daughter-in-law, Sue; two brothers and three sisters.

The family would like memorial contributions to the AseraCare Hospice in O'Neill. The staff and volunteers of AseraCare provided incredible care and support to Dale and family during the last few months.