Colleen Su Dale was born in Seoul, South Korea, on February 17, 1966. She came to the United States and joined the Denny Dale family October 25, 1969. She became a U.S. citizen two years later. Her childhood years were spent in the rural area around Philip and attended grade school in Philip until the 6th grade. She moved with her family to Bonner, Montana and attended school there and later in Frenchtown, Montana, where she graduated in 1984. She went on to attend Missoula Vo-Tech and at the present time was attending college in Palm Springs with three years of sign language behind her.
Colleen married Mark Krueger on September 26, 1997 in Las Vegas. During their marriage they had lived in Portland, Oregon, Anchorage, Alaska, Yakima, Washington, and Palm Springs, California. While there, she became her own contractor in remodeling and became a great photographer. She loved challenges of all types.
Grateful for having shared her life include her husband Mark Krueger; a son Andrew Altman; her parents Carol Anne and Al Hodge; a brother Jae Dale and his wife Bridget; one niece Jamai Dale; maternal cousins Lacie Myhre, Krista Myhre, and Terra Sichel; seven paternal cousins Claudette Griswold, Chris Mooney, Kelly Manzarnez, C.K. Dale III, Mike Dale, Martin and Matt Miller; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Colleen was preceded in death by her father Dennis Dale; an aunt Charlotte Keyser Myhre, maternal grandparents Hilda and Wayne Keyser, and paternal grandparents Claude and Juanita Dale.
Graveside services were held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 8, at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip, with Pastor Brad Kattelmann officiating.
Graveside Services
Thursday, September 8, 2005 10:00 a.m.
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota
Officiant
Pastor Brad Kattelmann
Honorary Pallbearers
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
"I’m Free"
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free.
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard his call.
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day;
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found my peace at close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh a kiss,
Ah yes, these things I too shall miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I’ve savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me;
God wanted me now; He set me free.
Guest Book
I gave piano lessons to Colleen before she could speak very much English. She was so very bright and such a quick learner. I knew her life would be filled with great adventures. Please accept my condolences.
~ Susan (McKay) Bandel
1905 Mt. Isle Harobor Drive, Charlotte, NC (8/6/2005)
Colleen and I both moved to Huson in 7th grade. Being the "newbies" as well as being neighbors, we became best friends. Every weekend well into our freshman year, one of us spent the night at the other's house. We certainly had a lot of fun. We remained friends throughout high school and kept in touch over the years, getting together once in a great while. We did keep in touch through e-mail and Christmas cards. She was a very giving, kind, smart, ambitious, fun-loving person. Her loss is a great tragedy and she will be greatly missed. My parents and the rest of my family send their condolences. I know we will all see her one day in heaven one day.
~ Theresa Bielawski
8546 Kermes Ave., Fair Oaks, CA 95628 (8/6/2005)
Wow, this is so hard to believe. While we only talked about every three months, I feel like I've lost a best friend. She was so caring and concerned for me. She would constantly have questions for me so I could ponder life and encourage me in my photography. I miss her very much and my heart goes out to Mark, Carol Anne, Al, Andy and Jae as they too morn her loss. May her spirtit be as free now as it was in life.
~ Lacie Myhre
2307 NE 4th St. #E108, Renton, WA 98056 (8/6/2005)
God set you free, Go with God, there is nothing better.
~ Eileen and Bill Garwood and Jerry Martin
Rapid City, SD and Huachuca City, AZ (8/6/2005)
I am so sorry to hear of Colleen's passing. I have a lot of fond memories of Colleen throughout high school. She was a strong, confident person. My thoughts and prayers are with your whole family.
~ Debbie (Reynolds) Lund
12237 Bryant St. SE, Tenino, WA 98589 (8/6/2005)
I was a classmate and good friend in high school.
Our prayers are with you.
~ Albert Hensel II
513 South 3rd Street, Selah, WA 98942 (8/6/2005)
Our sincere sympathy to you in this sad time. Our prayers are with you.
~ Larry and Barbara Byrne
P.O. Box 432, Sundance, WY 82728 (8/6/2005)
Classmate from Frenchtown, MT
~ Toby Haberlock
Frenchtown, MT (8/6/2005)
Carol & Family, There is nothing I can say that would express how sorry I am. So I will just let you know that you are in my prayers and that my thoughts are with you.
~ Bea Williams
2185 Roudup Dr., Missoula, MT 59808 (8/6/2005)
Carol & Al, I am so sorry to hear about Colleen. She was a great person and I enjoyed talking with her and being her banker over the years. She will be greatly missed by all of us and our prayers are with you both.
~ Larry Lamb
4010 Duncan Drive, Missoula, MT 59802 (8/6/2005)
God bless, Sorry to see you go.
~ Kenn Winegar
2924 Melrose, Helena, MT 59602 (8/6/2005)
I will truly miss Colleen. Even though it has been a few years since we have seen each other we have always kept in touch through out the years. I have always considered her one of my best friends. I will always remember the fun we had growing up and the fun we had when she moved back to Montana as an adult. She was the adventurous one and I had always wished I could have had her free spirit. I will greatly miss her.
~ Cindy (Wittig) Rainforth
PO Box 211, Frenchtown, MT 59834 (8/6/2005)
I will always remember how genuinely nice Colleen was. Last Christmas Colleen put together a beautiful present for my fiancé and I. It was probably the most thoughtful and unique gift I have ever received. I was always impressed with how well she did everything. Every hobby she took on she became an expert at. She had many admirable qualities that I will always remember. She lived with unmatched spirit and exuberance for life. I will miss her dearly.
~ Brianna Lomba (Jae Dale's stepdaughter)
North Wales, PA (8/6/2005)
Colleen taught me how to ride the little (and I mean little) motorcycle at the house in Huson when I was about 10 years old. The one thing she forgot to tell me was not to confuse the brake handle with the gas handle. Guess what, I confused them. I was doing fine until I got to the top of the short hill by the barn and had to turn around. I didn't do so well on sharp corners. So I basically had to stop and push myself around so I could go back down the hill to the house. Once I had turned myself around, I thought I had my hand on the brake, and off I went. Through the sticker bushes as fast as I could, yelling "HOW DO I STOP". I ended up stopping and falling over. I think we ended up laughing.
I also remember many snowball fights, that is if you can call them snowballs. It was more like frozen sections of ice. The snow in Montana isn't moist enough to make snowballs, but we sure did try. We even tried to build forts. But, you can’t pack the snow to make it, so we mostly just dug in the snow to make the fort to hide behind.
I remember one year for Christmas, Colleen was responsible for getting my gift. I remember being so excited to open it. It was a heavy box. I opened it up and there was another box. I opened that box and there was another box, I think there were 4 boxes before I found the corduroy pants and all the rocks that she had wrapped in tissue paper for me. I was so mad. Here I was about 8 years old and excited to be getting the heaviest gift and all I got was pants and rocks.
Boy, what I would do now to have those rocks now. These are just a few of the great memories that I have of growing up with a cousin like Colleen. She was a great person to know and to love. Her spirit and her spunk will live with me forever. I love and miss you Colleen!!!
~ Terra Sichel
Federal Way, Washington (8/6/2005)
I was so sorry to hear about the loss of Colleen. I will always remember her when I used to work for Denny and Carol, she was always such a happy little girl and always had a smile. My prayers are with all of you at this difficult time.
~ Larry Swift
Philip, SD (8/6/2005)
Carol,
I relay my sincere sympathy on your loss. I will never forget when Colleen came to SD. I was so excited for you and thankful you had made all those Barbie clothes for me! Colleen although only 4 years younger seemed like a new doll in your house! May God watch over you thru this loss.
~ Shelia (McDaniel) Trask
traskrch@gwtc.net (8/6/2005)
I remember how happy the Dale family was to have Colleen join them. Sorry to hear about the accident. God must have needed her so she is at peace.
~ Janice Rae Crowser
Philip, SD (8/6/2005)