Dale Cundy, age 90, of Huron, passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at Avantara in Huron. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at Welter Funeral Home. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Graceland Cemetery in Madison, South Dakota. Visitation, with the family present, will be from 5-7 p.m., on Friday, December 20, 2024 at Welter Funeral Home in Huron.

View Dale's Memorial Folder

Dale Arden Cundy was born November 24, 1934 in Esmond, South Dakota, the fourth of nine children, to parents Harold and Wanda (Plummer) Cundy.  He lived his entire life in the Esmond, Carthage, Iroquois and Huron areas.  Dale graduated from Carthage High School in 1952. He worked for area farmers until joining the United States Air Force, serving from 1954-1958 during the Korean War.  While finishing his military service at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, SD, he met (Alice) Elaine Pladsen, a pretty young teacher from the Spearfish area.  Upon his honorable discharge from the Air Force, they married on June 14,1958 and returned to Iroquois to start their life together.  Soon after, Dale accepted a position as Program Specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) in Huron, SD and enjoyed a long, fulfilling career there until retiring in 1988 at the age of 55.

Dale liked to stay busy so upon retirement, he accepted the seasonal position of Gate Superintendent for the South Dakota State Fair in which he was responsible for all financial operations, hiring and managing of personnel and overseeing the admission process.  He served in this role for many years while also starting a handyman business doing various construction and carpentry jobs for residents in the area.  He often worked for nominal (or no) pay because he enjoyed the satisfaction of helping others and staying physically and mentally active.  He retired from his handyman business at age 86 when the COVID pandemic hit.

Dale's family was very important to him.  Although his ASCS position required frequent travel to Washington, DC and to all counties in South Dakota, he rarely missed his children's sports events or school activities.  He took great pride watching his children and grandchildren participate in their activities.

Dale believed in volunteering in his community any time he could.  He was not only a little league baseball coach, but he was also a firefighter, EMT paramedic, and ambulance driver.  He was a member of the Iroquois American Legion for nearly 60 years, serving as a Post Commander and providing leadership in many other roles.   Dale was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Iroquois, SD and served on various other boards and committees throughout his life.  He was always available to anyone in the community or family who needed assistance.

From a young age, Dale loved music and was well known for his talented dancing ability.  On weekends, he could usually be found somewhere on a dance floor. He also enjoyed sports, playing cards, carpentry, and an occasional round of golf.  In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and vacationing with his family.

Dale never met a stranger.  Throughout his career at ASCS and other involvements, there were very few places that Dale went that someone didn't know him.  His warm smile, infectious laugh, kind personality, and generosity made him impossible to forget.

He is survived by his children, Randy (Linda) Cundy and Marie (Cundy) Lohsandt; grandchildren Robbie (Emily) Cundy of Sioux Center, IA, Michelle (Matt) Gray of Glen Morris, Ontario, Canada, April Cundy of Sioux Falls, SD, and Austin Lohsandt of Huntsville, AL; great-grandchildren Drew, Grant and Claire Cundy of Sioux Center, IA and Eloise, Silas, Roslyn, and Kinslie Gray of Glen Morris, Ontario, Canada; siblings Darlene Cox, Miller, SD, Duane 'Eddie' (Deb) Cundy, Mitchell, SD, Diane Sawvell, Pomona, CA, Dorothy Ingemansen, Aberdeen, SD, Dennis (Mary) Cundy, Sioux Falls, SD, Darwin (Sandy) Cundy, Iroquois, SD, and numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. He is also survived by his loyal friend and dance partner, Karen Mueller of Huron, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Wanda Cundy, former wife (Alice) Elaine Cundy, siblings and spouses Deloyce (Frances) Cundy, Donald (Florence) Cundy, Gene Cox, Gale Sawvell, Melvin Ingemansen, sisters-in-law and spouses Dorothy (Ernie) Pogany, Doris (Martin) Eastman, Ruby Lee (Duane) Locken, Lucille (Gene) Schnabel, and Darlene (Robert) Geyer, along with several nephews and nieces.