Dale Thomas Westermann

Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death and brings life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us give God the glory for what He did through Dale Thomas Westermann.

Dale Thomas Westermann was born in Horton, Kansas to Ernest Henry Westermann and Harriet Elizabeth Foster. He grew up on the family farm - enjoyed hard work, agriculture and hunting. He once shared that he used to run around the back forty on the farm in a Model A or T. He graduated from Atchison Community Junior-Senior High School in Effingham KS in 1959.

Next he attended Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, CO driving US highway 36 the entire way. There he met Diana Lee Deane when during break time she made lemonade in lab beakers for everyone on the floor, but especially for Dale. Their first date was early morning worm hunting, so they could go fishing later that day. Diana remembers Dale’s culinary skills were not the greatest. She recalled at his frat house, when she wanted a brownie, Dale slamming his fist down on the pan to break off a piece to give to her. Even so, it must have gone ok as Diana shared she once went on a camping trip with Dale’s family determined to make sure he would ask her to marry him. No worries - they were married on June 9, 1963 in Ft. Collins, CO.

He also graduated from CSU with a BS in Soils that same year. The day after senior final exams, they got in the car and drove to Oregon for grad school. Dale once shared he thought he had done his best on his first exam (an A) and progressively worse failing his last exam. In reality he had done the reverse - failed the first and aced his last. In 1965 he earned a Masters from Oregon State University.

Their family, now numbering 4, moved to Twin Falls, Idaho where Dale started to work for the USDA-ARS as a Soil Scientist. Twin was a natural stopping spot on trips from Fort Collins to Oregon and they liked it a lot. So when a job came up here, they took it. Dale was blessed to enjoy his job so much that he said he would have continued to go to work even if he was not paid. In 1969 he earned his PhD from Oregon State. Later, nearer his retirement in 2007, he took on the role of Head Scientist. After retirement, enjoyed his extended family including grandkids. As time went on Dale spent more taking care of his wife as her health declined to her death in 2024.

Over time, Dale was a member of Immanuel Lutheran, Twin Falls; Redeemer Lutheran, Kimberly; and Trinity Lutheran, Eden. He taught adult bible study and was active on various church boards. While an Elder he took the time to visit people in his care group to make sure they were ok. He also attended a local Cursillo weekend multiple times and one time was selected to be Rector. Needless to say Dale’s faith and church families were important parts of his earthly life.

Along the way Dale and his wife supported many charity and Christian outreaches. They especially became involved with Lutheran Camp Perkins in the Sawtooth Mountains. Some of the functions he served with this organization were bookkeeper, board member, and was not above pitching in with work weekends/extended construction projects. With his wife they supported the mission and purpose of Camp Perkins and the staff with time, words, actions and finances. It was one of his favorite places to go. His fervent wish was that people who work and go there leave with a deeper sense and relationship with Him.

In the latter portion of his life, Dale was challenged with several health conditions - some acute, some lifelong and some recurring. After a hospitalization in early March 2026 that he did not fully recover from, he died Easter Sunday June 5, 2026. Word went out with a “Success- Completion. Dale has moved on to the next life. Christ is risen!” We celebrate him not having to fight a body that was not working well anymore but will miss him.

He was preceded in death by his wife and younger brother Steve, parents and grandparents. He is survived by his sisters, Helen and Ruth and three sons Timothy Allen, Paul Henry and Scott Kevin, eight grandchildren, and other related family members.

Memorials in his name may be given to Camp Perkins, HC 64, Box 9384, Ketchum, ID 83340. A Memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Eden, ID on June 16, 2026 at 2 pm followed by a reception. The service will be broadcast live on Trinity Lutheran's Facebook page.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. We thank God our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord for our brother, Dale Thomas Westermann.