Dale August Nygaard, 76, of Staunton Virginia, passed away Saturday, September 29, 2018 at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Dale was born in Wahpeton, North Dakota on July 4, 1942. He was the son of J. Maurice Nygaard and Eva Swenson Nygaard.
Dale was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Wahpeton and was a long time member of Christ Lutheran Church in Staunton.
Dale and his family moved to the Shenandoah Valley when he was a teenager. He loved country life and was active in the Woodrow Wilson Chapter of the FFA during high school. Dale and his sister Judy raised sheep, milk cows, beef cattle, chickens, and pigs on the home farm. Even after he was married and working a full time job, he would help his parents and sister with some of the farm work. He loved his dogs that he always had near him.
Dale attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, and then worked as an apprentice and received his certification as a journeyman machinist. He used those skills at home as well as work. He was creative in his ability to find answers to problems he or those around him encountered. He used a lot of the skills he learned in his work-life as he continued to build things in his workshop and loved woodworking.
Dale joined the choir at Christ Lutheran Church where he met his future wife, Martha Ann Grine Nygaard. Dale and Martha celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary February 24, 2018. Dale loved his family very much and was extremely proud of his two daughters and his only grandchild.
In addition to his parents, Dale was preceded in death by a brother Darrell Wilmer Nygaard, a sister-in-law Patsy Hahn Nygaard, a brother-in-law Norman F. Dillon Jr., and a son-in law Phil Aenchbacher.
Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Melissa Grine Nygaard and Christie Lynn Nygaard both of Staunton; a granddaughter Cameron Reagan Aenchbacher; a brother Maurice Arnold Nygaard; a sister Judith Marian Nygaard Matthews and her husband Winston Eugene Matthews; sister-in-laws Ann Coiner Nygaard and Lynn Grine Dillon; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Dale is with his Lord and no longer in pain. He is with his beloved dog, Munchy, who loved to ride on the tractor and go in the woods with him and other family members who passed before Dale.
A special thanks to Dr. T. Glen Gray, Dr. Rodney C. Graber, and Dr. Tushar Chopra for the exceptional care they all provided to Dale over the years.
A celebration of Dale's life will be held privately by the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make memorial contributions may do so to the Verona Virginia Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 348, Verona VA 24482. Dale's family thanks the Fire Department for all the times they helped him through the years and their kindness towards Dale.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton, is in charge of his arrangements.