Ronald Brian Dale, age 78, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, died peacefully on December 10, 2023, with Bernice, his loving wife of 56 years, and Rebecca, his youngest daughter, at his side. He was born on March 20, 1945, in Sault Ste. Marie to William Henry and Effie Frederica (MacDonald) Dale.
Ron grew up in Sault Ste. Marie and graduated from Sault High School. He attended Michigan Technological University and Michigan State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Geology. On August 26, 1967, he married Bernice “Bunnie” Lawrene Scott also of Sault Ste. Marie. After graduating from university, he joined the United States Coast Guard and served as an officer for three years being stationed in New York, Massachusetts, and as the commanding officer of a small base in the South Pacific.
After the Coast Guard Ron and Bunnie lived for a short time in Sault Ste. Marie where they had their first daughter, Lisa Marie. Ron soon secured a job as a Seismologist and the young family moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and then Maynard, Massachusetts where their second daughter, Rebecca “Becci” Marion, was born. In 1979, they moved to Illinois and where he worked in mine regulation for the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals until his retirement at the age of 57, in 2002. Ron and Bunnie retired to Arizona for eight years, then to Oregon for eight years, before moving back to Sault Ste. Marie in 2014.
People thought highly of Ron as he was incredibly honest, trustworthy, and loyal. He chose his friends carefully but had great affection for those he considered friends. He was interested in almost everything. He was an avid reader and could speak on nearly any subject with intelligence and understanding. He questioned the status quo and taught his daughters to do the same.
A member of the Geological Society of America and White Mountain Gem and Mineral Club, Ron was a geologist by trade, but also in his heart. He with his daughters, then later with his grandchildren, spent hours searching for fossils and interesting rocks. The rock collection he left behind is a monument to this love, both literally and figuratively.
He also loved science and nature, particularly astronomy and stargazing. On many a humid Illinois night he could be found at his telescope looking at the moon, planets, start and comets. Ron also enjoyed camping, taking his family nearly every summer weekend on camping excursions to local campgrounds and yearly vacations to places like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.
Ron also enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and many pet dogs he loved dearly. He travelled annually to Israel and Alaska to visit his daughters and grandchildren. Ron enjoyed woodworking and could fix and build almost anything, and he did so with meticulous precision. He had a fondness for science fiction and Steven King books and yelling at the TV when the news was wrong.
Ron is survived by his wife, Bernice Lawrene Dale of Sault Ste. Marie; children, Lisa (Jeremy) Vogel of Kibbutz Hulata, Israel, Rebecca (William) Anderson of Anchorage, Alaska; grandchildren, Rohn and Kai Anderson, Golan, Ari, and Naomi Vogel; brothers-in-law, David (Kathy) Scott of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Thomas K. Woodgate of Mount Pleasant, Michigan and Leonard Bertram of Sault Ste. Marie; sisters-in-law, Connie Wanzer of Sault Ste. Marie and Karen Dale of Lansing, Michigan; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ron is preceded in death by his parents, William and Effie (MacDonald) Dale; brothers, Allan Dale, William (Rita) Dale; sisters, Marion Bertram and Virgina (Ken) Dale; parents-in-law, Thomas and Beatrice (Forbes) Woodgate; sister-in-law, Ellen Woodgate.
Anyone wishing to honor Ron’s memory may donate in his name to the Chippewa County Animal Shelter (donation link - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GNT6QQCL5TKX2 or by calling 906-632-2519) to help them build a new facility which will include playrooms where adopters can meet cats or dogs, puppy birthing areas, and a decompression area for overwhelmed dogs.
At this time, no services are currently scheduled.
Family Life Funeral Homes is serving the family. Condolences may be left to the family at www.csmulder.com
