Dale James Larson

Heaven is a livelier and happier place since Sunday, August 10, 2008, when Dale Larson opened his eyes there. He is now enjoying grandparents and uncles who got there first, but is sorely missed by his wife Arlene, son Keil, parents, in-laws, sister, nephews and niece, and a host of friends and associates.

Dale was born in Saginaw, Michigan, July 5, 1949. He missed being a firecracker by one day but never let that stand in his way. He grew up in Port Huron, Michigan, attended Eastern Michigan University and received his Masters in Education at Oakland University. He taught school in Port Huron, Michigan, and moved to Washington in 1980, where he taught in the Monroe School District and then in several elementary schools in the Lake Washington School District. He last taught 5th grade at Horace Mann Elementary.

Dale was very active in Boy Scouts, serving as Scoutmaster for 3 years for Troop 573. In one of Dale?s proudest moments, son Keil received the Eagle Scout award on June 8, 2008. Keil awarded his Eagle Scout mentor pin to his Dad.

Dale kept busy with a number of hobbies in addition to family, work and scouting. He was a talented woodworker, fisherman, skier, musician, and astronomer. Dale had a talent and love for working with young people. As a teacher for 30 years, Dale influenced the lives of approximately 900 students. As a volunteer for the Northshore Ski program for 20 years, he chaperoned approximately 400 kids on weekend ski outings. As a volunteer and Scoutmaster for Troop 573 he touched the lives of at least 200 impressionable young men, mentoring them on the path to young adulthood.

Dale was an avid fisherman claiming to have caught over 200 big ones. He had a love for astronomy and attended many star parties at Table Mountain in Ellensburg with friends. With his involvement in Boy Scouts, he hiked and canoed over 700 miles. He planned many outings including a hiking and canoeing trip to Alaska in 2007 which he was unable to attend due to heart surgery.

Dale enjoyed doing intricate exacting woodworking and carving projects. Snowflakes, trivets, interlocking tree puzzles, hand-carved scout neckerchief slides, Keil?s eagle flag box and a hand-carved eagle head are among his many projects. Dale was a talented seamster male seamstress sewing all of Keil?s Halloween costumes as well as his own haute courtier costume collection, which includes cow and chicken suits. Dale sewed on all of Keil?s merit and special badges, some of which he designed himself.

Dale developed his own style of slide shows, and put together many productions which inspired and entertained the families of Troop 573. Dale got his first guitar at church camp when he was in 6th grade. He was self taught and enjoyed hundreds of hours learning to play and entertaining his friends and family with his talent and love of funny songs.

Dale was always busy and always trying something new. Of late, he had many remodeling projects at home, including an extensive kitchen remodel and replacement of flooring from carpet and laminate to hardwood. And no, he was not done. Dale left several things undone including the good times we all looked forward to sharing with him. All of his family and a host of friends were not finished having fun with him; he left us way too soon. Dale always enjoyed a good joke, a good story, and a good skit and was not afraid to laugh at himself.

Viewing will be at the Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home in Bothell, Thursday, August 21, 2008 from 2pm to 8pm. A memorial service will be held at Eastside Foursquare Church, Friday, August 22 at 2 pm, 14520 100th Ave. NE, Bothell, WA 98011.

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made in behalf of Dale Larson?s name to Chief Seattle Council, Boy Scouts, PO Box 440408, Seattle, WA 98114.