Memories of Dale by Oswaldo Kumata

I remember well, I first met Dale in Manhattan, Kansas when he went there to get Katsumi and me. It was March 5th, 1971, a cold and windy Kansas winter. (I had just arrived from Brazil). We had a meeting with some Kansas Farm Bureau members. It was a meeting for host families and trainees. After lunch we headed to Glen Elder, Kansas. During our ride to Dale's home, he tried to teach us some English words by pointing out things by the road, like: snow, fence, wheat, shed, cattle, hay and so forth. Everything was so fresh and new for Katsumi and me. We both could not understand anything in this strange new language. (We spoke Portuguese). When we got to Glen Elder, I met Dale's family: JoAnne, Diana, Mark and Scott. We met also for the first time, two other trainees, Arcidio (from Brazil) and Masao (from Japan).

At this time Dale was building a new house so we helped once in a while. Dale taught us how to paint. This was something we had never done before.

On May 22, 1971 Dale's parents, Donald and Verda Adell moved to the new house from Topeka, Kansas. I loved to have oatmeal for breakfast, so sometimes Verda would invite me to have breakfast with her and she would tell the stories of when she was a child, also she told me about her parents, grandparents and her school. I loved to hear those stories because I loved western movies, and hearing about the old west and learning more about how the west was won. Verda told me that her grandparents came from Ohio or Indiana. I am not sure from which state they came. One of the stories she told me was when Dale's sister, Alice, was born she cried lots (she was colicky) and Dale said to Verda, "Mom you better take back this baby." The events I am writing about happened 40 years ago, but I still remember well what Verda told me at those breakfasts.

In the beginning, when I first came everything was hard for us. English was difficult for Katsumi and me. (English is still difficult for me). The climate was very different than in Brazil. There were many differences such as the food and we were homesick.The American agriculture was much more developed than Brazilian agriculture. Americans use more machinery for seeding and at harvest, so Katsumi and I had to learn a lot to do our daily chores. Dale was very patient with us as he explained what we had to do especially since we didn't speak English well. Each season we had a different kind of work and more explanation was needed. Everything was HUGE: tractors, combines, fields - especially for short guys like us.

Our lunch was fixed by Dale. Every day we had TV dinners. There was three kinds of lunch: pork, beef and chicken with one hamburger and bun. We were young and weren't used to having breakfast because here in Brazil we weren't used to eating much in the morning so at lunch time we were starved. In the beginning we only had TV dinners, but soon we told Dale that TV dinners weren't enough for us so he increased one hamburger and bun for lunch.

Sometimes on Saturday night we would go to town to play snooker with Ivan (an American hired hand for Dale) and another guy who was the town's sheriff. It was fun. In the corner was a jukebox playing country music while we were playing snooker and drinking Coors beer. Every Saturday when we were leaving home, Dale used to say, "don't drink too much!" We answered, "we never do!" Katsumi would drive to town and I would drive on the return trip home. I never drank much beer, so this was safer.

Every Sunday morning we used to do our chores quickly and then go to the Methodist Church in Beloit, Kansas. After the church service we would have lunch at a family or friend's place. Sometimes we went to Aunt Mildred's, JoAnne's aunt who lived in Beloit. It was strange but every Sunday when I came back to Brazil, I felt that I was missing something because here I was not used to going to church every Sunday like in Kansas.

Dale was our boss, but also like our father, caring for us so kindly. After I came back to Brazil I never forgot the American life I had and I cherished those memories, wanting to go back one day. I did go back, twice.
My first trip back to the United States was in July 1982. I visited Dale and his family, we headed for Yellowstone and stopped at Dubois at Stewart's Trapline Gallery, Dale told me, "when I get retirement, I want to come here to live. I love this place." I was glad he did move there. Two years ago (2008) was my lucky day when I came to visit Dale and all of his family. I flew from Brazil to Atlanta, GA and then to Seattle (WA). I met Mark in Seattle and he took me to Victoria and Vancouver, Canada. I had wonderful days with Mark and his lovely family. From Seattle I flew to Salt Lake City, UT and then to Jackson Hole, WY. Dale and JoAnne were waiting for me. Dale was so happy to see me and took me to the best restaurant for dinner. The next day we went fishing for trout with Robert Tyson. A picture Robert took shows Dale's pants were wet because the trout we caught had not been tied up good enough and the six trout went to deep water. Robert said, "Dale just leave them." Dale wouldn't listen and worked with the short rope and brought the six trout back. When we were taking pictures he just laughed and said to Robert, "I had to bring back those trout because if I didn't Oswaldo would never forgive me.. ha ha ha ha ha ha." What a GREAT TIME WE HAD - just a dream ago.

One night he took JoAnne, Diana and me to see a country band, J Wranglers. We had a great dinner and then the show. I took pictures that night. Dale was so happy. (His smile was so true and happy. I was too). We went up the mountain on the four-wheeler. Up the mountain we stopped to rest and talked a lot. One thing I told him was, "The best thing I did during my young years was to come to America. It opened my mind and I could see more far away. I had successes in my big city, Curitiba. due to my stay in America. When I (redneck) arrived in Curitiba, I was able to catch an opportunity and be successful." Dale was a little bit surprised at what I had to say.

Next I went to Sheridan and Scott took me to South Dakota and then to Montana. Next, Diana took me to Casper and then we went to Kansas. At Glen Elder I did something I had waited 13 years to do. I wanted to visit Verda's sepulcher and I did because Diana was so kind to take me there. (Verda died in July 1994.) Verda was just like my own grandmother. Because Verda was not able to come to Brazil, I took some Brazilian soil and dried rose petals from my garden and spread them on her resting place. Now Dale is resting on Dubois hill, on a Wyoming mountain, the places he loved and enjoyed so much. I am so glad for him. I wish that one day I can visit his resting place and go fishing at Windriver - maybe with JoAnne this time.

I remember one night when Dale and JoAnne told me the ABC's of Salvation. Dale explained salvation and we talked about it a lot. I AM LUCKY I had someone caring for me so much and he wants to meet me again at the next stage. HEAVEN CAN WAIT FOR US. Oswaldo

Memories of Dale Adell by Rev. Gene Hill

Rev. Gene Hill

November 17, 2010

I first met Dale and JoAnne in El Centro.  In January, 2007, I became pastor of the Rio Bend Chapel at Rio Bend RV Park.  Throughout my two years there, I was very close to the Adells, often invited for dinner in their home.

Dale Adell 1939-2010

Four Wheeling (Pulled Me Out Of a Hole)

            As we all know, Dale’s life was the epitome of what servant hood is really about.  When I visited the Adells the last weekend of July in Dubois, Dale took me four wheeling.  We went all through the back woods high above their mountain home.  It was an experience I will never forget.  I had never been four wheeling before.  One of the memories was getting stuck in a hole.  Dale had already traversed the water/mud hole, but he had a special way of pulling me out of the hole with his four wheeler.  That’s what Dale did in his life – he pulled a lot of people out of the hole they were stuck in!

Moose in Wilson, Wyoming

            On Sunday, August 1, 2010, Dale and JoAnne took me to the Bar J Chuck wagon in Wilson, just out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  As we drove into the huge parking lot, Dale slowed and said he thought there was a moose out there.  JoAnne and I got out, and there was a HUGE bull moose, less than 30 yards away.  What a thrill!  I have always loved moose, and had only seen one from a long distance, and it wasn’t a bull moose.  But this was the real thing, and it was an absolute thrill.  But the real story here is that Dale was even more thrilled than JoAnne and me!!!  He just didn’t let on!

Chuck Wagon Supper (Laughter) (Jokes)

            Everyone needs to experience the Bar J ranch – from the hot biscuits prior to the dinner show, to all the laughter and jokes.  In all the time I knew Dale, I had never seen him laugh as much.  The thing about it, Dale and JoAnne always took friends to the Bar J, and Dale knew what was coming – joke wise!  You would have thought that he was hearing those jokes for the very first time!

Flat Tire

            Another example of taking care of everybody…As I traveled around Dubois in my little red Ford Focus, there were a lot of roads with gravel.  Well, I noticed my rear right tire was getting low.  Dale took care of it all.  He knew about Bull’s Texaco in town.  Before heading back to California, he had me down there and took care of the whole problem.  No worries with Dale around.

Feeding the Horses

            Another wonderful memory I will always have is the way Dale and JoAnne took care of not only Snickers, but all the horses.  This was this past summer after Robert had an accident and had rotator cuff surgery.  Dale and JoAnne faithfully fed those horses morning and night.  The moral of the story is love and friendship here.  That was the type of friendship Dale and Robert enjoyed – looking out after each other.

Annual Late Summer Hunting in the Mountains

            Since meeting Dale and JoAnne, I had always heard about the annual hunting trip Dale took in the late summer, early fall, before they headed south for the winter.  I can’t remember all the details of the many stories, but somebody knows about them, I’m sure.  Dale told me a lot of the stories this last summer when I was in Dubois.  One story was about the horse slipping down the side of the mountain.  Dale could really tell the story, and how everything eventually worked out.  Even hanging the food up on limbs to keep the bears away.  Also, Dale knew all the places he had hunted for years in Western Wyoming.  He pointed places out as we drove to Jackson Hole that August 1^st afternoon.  Memories forever.

Commitment to His Friends

            Dale Adell was committed to his friends like no one I have ever known.  If there was a need, he would do everything in his power to help.  JoAnne continues to be the same way.  They were a team.  They would get it all figured out.  Dale Adell learned this, I’m sure, early on, probably at home in Kansas, and it was with him to the very last.

Commitment to His Church in Casper, Dubois, And

Helping Robert

            What I’ve just said in the paragraph above is really connected to what Dale’s heart was always about – his faith, and others.  His commitment to his family, his faith, and his neighbor.  That was what it was all about for Dale.  Dale loved the church, and he was always a part.  He never wavered on his faith.  This doesn’t mean that he agreed on everything, but he held firm to his beliefs and to living his life for Christ and the church.  Besides family, teaching, building, and hunting – one could find Dale helping at the church – not just with the buildings, but the people who were the real church.  He had many, many stories from the churches in Casper, Dubois, Imperial Valley, and Mesquite.  I’ve already mentioned the special friendship between Robert and Dale.  I can’t remember the specifics, but there is a story of how Robert got to Wyoming from Kansas.  Somebody has that story, I’m sure.

Telling Stories (House) (Church Stories)

            While in Dubois the last weekend of July, I heard for the first time the story of the Adell’s house burning in Casper, and the person involved.  I can’t remember the details, but again it involves helping someone that turned on them.  How quickly life changed and adversity hit – but out of the ashes, Dale and JoAnne came back stronger than ever!  There are/were many stories from all the churches they were involved in.

           

Servant

            Dale Adell was a servant.  We should all follow that example.  I am sure he heard the words on October 14, 2010, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!  Enter now into the joy of My presence!”

Talked About His Family

            During that last weekend in July, I heard Dale talk about their children, grandchildren, and many, many good times.

Too Young To Go

            In my opinion, 71 is too young to leave.  But none of us knows when our time will come.  60 is the new 50.  70 is the new 60.  But it was Dale’s time.  He lived his life to the fullest, and he set an example for all of us.  I heard someone say recently, “It is a privilege to grow old, because not everyone gets that opportunity.”  Oh how true.

Survivor Of Surgeries/Never Heard Him Complain Of His Pain (Back/Knees)

            Even with all the surgeries Dale had – back, knees, hip, and others – I never heard him complain.  He did say that he had some ungodly pain with having both knees replaced at the same time – and who wouldn’t.  I’m mainly thinking that I never knew of Dale to complain between surgeries.  If he was hurting, most of us never knew it.

El Centro – Rio Bend Chapel

            While in El Centro, Dale basically served as Chairman of the Church Board.  He, as well as JoAnne, loved the church there.  They were involved in all aspects – getting the minister, substitutes, working with the park management, setting up chairs every Sunday, planning potlucks, overseeing communion, sharing invitations to park residents, dealing with personalities.  And important to me, every Sunday, without fail, Dale gave me a handshake and put an envelope in my pocket!

Helper to Everyone at Rio Bend

            Dale was first hired, early on, by park owner, Ed McGrew.  Dale and JoAnne served as Assistant Managers for Rio Bend.  Those were the good ole days.  In addition, this is where Dale had his “business” – and I can’t call it for sure.  But it was something like, “Mr. Repair It,” or “Mr. Fix It.”  I’m sure JoAnne can get the name of that.  To make a long story short, Dale was everywhere in that park.  If he saw a need, it got done!  Dale had a vision for what Rio Bend could be, and was disappointed when it seemed to go south after many managers and owners.

Helper to JoAnne in the Kitchen

            One thing I always observed, Dale and JoAnne were a team!  When Dale could have been sitting in his chair at Rio Bend, he was up in the kitchen helping JoAnne with the potatoes, or whatever was needed.  Dale did his part, and whatever was asked or needed.

Driving To San Antonio

            One of the rituals for many years during the Rio Bend days, Dale and JoAnne would leave Dubois and head to San Antonio to visit JoAnne’s mother, then head west to El Centro.  Or sometimes, they would do that in reverse.  The main thing here is that Dale knew the highways and byways, and he was never hesitant to do what it took to get JoAnne to see her mother and family.

Shaped Life in Kansas

            I don’t know for sure, but it would stand to reason that Dale’s life – who he was to all of us – was shaped by his family and growing up in the fields of Kansas.  We are all composites of the journey we’ve taken, the decisions we’ve made, and those made for us.

Loved Wyoming

            Dale loved Wyoming, and his heart embraced it.  I was so pleased to see Dale’s final resting place.  That view I can see in my mind in this very moment.  It is a 360 degree view of mountains and sky – of trees high above where the Adell’s cabin stands, and the red rock of the north, the badlands.  I believe that is a little bit of what heaven is going to be like.  And the seasons of Western Wyoming on that hill just East of Dubois will continue to change – but the view will be forever.

Loved Hunting

            Dale loved hunting.  It wasn’t the thrill of the kill, but it was something more.  I’m not a hunter, so I’m not sure what I’m really trying to say here.  Perhaps others can describe it.  I just know that he loved to hunt.

Loved the Mountains

            Dale loved the mountains.  It could very well be because there were no mountains in Kansas.  But he loved the mountains of Wyoming, and there was a real connection there.        

Story of How the Bear Came Up On the Porch of the Original Cabin

            Dale humorously tells the story of the bear that came up on the porch of the original little cabin.  Dale and JoAnne were staying in the little cabin as they built their larger mountain home.  At any rate,  Dale was inside the little cabin and he went to the screen door – and there was a bear.  They both got a real good look at each other.  I don’t think Dale invited the bear inside – ha!

His Love of Katie, the Dog

            Another thing I observed at Rio Bend and in Dubois – Dale loved their Katie, the dog.  I have to admit that at the service for Dale, for some reason I kept thinking about Katie.  Because animals know and sense when something is not right.  Perhaps Snickers, the horse, also sensed.  But no one mentioned Katie, and I didn’t bring her up.  I’m just glad that JoAnne has Katie and Katie has JoAnne.  I was remembering Katie, too, as we said goodbye to Dale.

Some other final thoughts…

Ø  Dale mentioned on the trip to Wilson on August 1^st – while passing by the gorgeous views of the Tetons – something about Diana climbing, or desiring to climb that tallest peak – that she might someday do it.

Ø  Another thing is that Dale had all his students in woodshop make bird houses.  He talked to me about what this taught his students.

Ø  And another thing, when driving into Dubois, and seeing Dale’s name up on the reader board (announcing his service at the Headwaters) – I would think Dale would be smiling at that.

High School Years: From Mike Smith, 1/7/2011

I was sick at heart when I got the news that Dale Adell had died.  We go back to our freshman year at Beloit High School in 1953.  I don’t remember how we first met but it didn’t take us long to become friends.  Perhaps it was a bit of an unusual teen friendship as Dale was very involved in all high school athletics and I was not involved at all.  The rheumatic fever I had as a child left a heart murmur and the doctor prescribed no strenuous sports.  But that didn’t seem to matter - we were the best of friends in short order.  Both of us were in band together and we just seemed to “hit-it-off” as the old saying goes.

I have so many good memories of those days and I want to get some of them down on paper while I am still able.  Dale went through the eighth grade in Glen Elder, Kansas, his home town.  Glen Elder was a little over ten miles west of Beloit -not a long drive - and he decided to come to Beloit for high school.  Beloit is the county seat for Mitchell County and the high school was significantly larger than the one in Glen Elder.  During bad weather when the road to Glen Elder was icy, Dale would spend the night at my house.  Also, when there was a school function or dance at night, Dale and I would double date and then he would spend the night with me in Beloit rather than drive home late. We always had a good time and did a little studying - we just enjoyed being together.  I learned several things about Dale early in our friendship.  One was that, even as a high school student, he was a person of principles and good morals and you could trust what he said.  Also, he was open with his thoughts and feelings and you didn’t have to wonder what was on his mind - he’d always let you know.  He had a great sense of humor and I remember well his contagious laugh that would get everyone going when something funny happened.

Now that’s not to say that he was perfect.  He and I liked to have a good time and I am going to mention a few occasions that, possibly, even his family didn’t know about.  When he started driving to Beloit for high school, he was given his grand dad’s 1950 Chevy, which had less than 20,000 miles on it.  The car was like new when he got it.  But traveling between Glen Elder and Beloit,  he would drive it about as fast as it would go and before too long, the six cylinder engine threw a rod through the engine block (those engines didn’t have the best oiling system) and that was the end of that little creme puff.  What happened to the car was common knowledge among the male population of our class but I’m reasonably sure he never told Donald or Verda the cause of the cars demise.  Maybe he has now shared this with them in heaven - I don’t think there would be any retribution to pay up there.  I can’t remember what he drove to school after the engine in the Chevy blew up but it was probably their 1953 Ford.

When the 1955 Chevys came out in the fall of 1954, Donald bought a new ‘55, coral and charcoal two-tone,  with the V-8 engine.  There was a straight piece of road on the outskirts of Beloit that was the unofficial drag strip for teenagers.  The V-8 Chevys were hot cars and we drag raced the Adel’s new Chevy several times in the course of that school year. The next year Donald bought a ‘56 Chevy V-8 with the power pack option (a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts).  It had the Power Glide transmission and, at the drag strip, we quickly figured out that you could hold the Power glide transmission in low range up to about 75 mph, then shift to drive and the car would almost instantly jump to 90 mph.  This was definitely a regimen not mentioned in the owner’s manual for the car but we won a lot of drags using it.  We never shared these experiences with Dale’s parents nor with mine and as far as I know, they never found out.  I’ve often wondered who the poor sucker was that bought the car after it was traded in and whether he had transmission trouble.

Dale took Industrial Arts all four years in high school.  When he was a senior, he built a plywood boat from scratch.  There were two bachelor brothers who farmed near Beloit.  During the winter, they spent their time rebuilding outboard boat motors and Dale bought the most powerful motor they had to go with his boat.  It was a Johnson outboard of early ‘30's vintage and these engines were used by racers up into the 1950's and possible the 1960's.  Immediately after graduation, he and I (and maybe another classmate or two - I don’t remember) took the boat and motor to the Marion County Lake, near Wichita, where my aunt and uncle had a cabin and spent several days putting his new boat to work.  We had a grand time.  Of course this was the time of our life when we at the peak of our intelligence:  we had a high school degree and no experience and we knew everything!  I don’t know about Dale but I have been getting dumber ever since.

During our high school years, Halloween was a glorious occasion for us.  I would head from Beloit to Glen Elder shortly before dark and usually I would eat supper at his house.  When it was sufficiently dark, we would begin our pranks.  At the time, Glen Elder had only one constable and we kept him very busy.  The Methodist Church had a bell that you could ring from outside the church and that is where we generally started.  From there, we would stay one step ahead of the constable as we tipped over privies (yes, they still had some in use), rolled empty 55 gallon drums from the Coop gas station downhill and into the town square, and engaged in other mischief.  Our last stop was the Methodist Church to ring the bell again before we headed for Beloit to spend the night at my house.  The constable never caught up with us but I remember that one year as we were heading out of town on the back road to US 24, we met a highway patrol car heading into Glen Elder with his light flashing.  We just kept going and made it to my house without being caught.

From Mike Smith, 1/7/2011