Dale V. Rage

On Monday, July 8, 2024, Dale Vernon Rage was called home, and Heaven gained a caring, generous man. Dale’s brave fight against pancreatic cancer came to an end in the comfort of his own home surrounded by his family. It is with heavy hearts that we announce his passing, but with full hearts that we recognize and celebrate his incredible journey and the life he lived that we were so fortunately graced with here on earth.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024, where we invite friends to join our family in honoring his memory. Visitation will be at 1:00pm with a service at 2:00pm followed by sharing of stories and refreshments at the Christian Life Center of Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.

Dale was 65 years old, and born on July 7, 1959, to Vernon and Cheryl Rage, in Ada, MN. He grew up in Ada on their dairy farm that had been in the family nearly 100 years. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church. Dale’s faith was important to him, he enjoyed attending bible camp as a child and participated in many church youth trips. A couple of his highlights were backpacking in the Beartooth Mountains in Montana and taking a train trip to Washington. 

He attended Ada High School and excelled at both football and wrestling. One of our boys impressed a neighbor by telling them that his dad played for the Minnesota Vikings…later to find it was the “Ada Minnesota” Vikings. Following graduation, Dale attended Wahpeton State School of Science to become a Diesel Mechanic. Dale made his home in Bismarck, ND where he began working for Butler Machinery as a Service Technician. Dale enjoyed his years in Bismarck; some of the best times were spent with his friends partying, boating on the Missouri River and 3 wheeling at the Desert, south of Bismarck. 

The best part of living in Bismarck was meeting the love of his life, Vickie Wetsch. They were united in marriage on September 3, 1982. Following several years of fun and adventures, God blessed them with two beautiful sons, Benjamin (1991) and William (1995). In 1998 Dale accepted a position with the Fargo Butler Store as a Heavy Service Advisor; they then moved to Moorhead, MN. Dale remained with Butler Machinery for 43 1/2 years until he retired in January, 2023.

Dale kept himself busy in his home shop and enjoyed all types of projects. His projects included auto repairs, home improvements and woodworking. He continued to come up with and work on new projects even throughout his cancer journey. One of his favorite projects was making hundreds of beautiful beanbag boards for many of us to enjoy. Dale was always willing to help everyone with projects of any type as well as teach them how a job is always easier with the right tools! Amazon was his best friend and I know they will miss him dearly. In addition to projects, Dale enjoyed riding his Harley with Vickie; they enjoyed some beautiful scenery on their amazing road trips together. 

Dale could often be heard saying, “Hey Vic, why don’t you make something and we’ll invite someone over.” Until the very end, he had a quick wit and a sarcastic sense of humor that we all appreciated, whether it made us laugh or shake our heads and roll our eyes. Above all else, it was Dale’s love and dedication to his family that left a legacy that will forever live in those he loved. He was a caring husband, dad and papa. Dale is now enjoying the best retirement ever in heaven.

Dale is survived by his wife, Vickie and their children, Benjamin and Samantha (Jacobsen) and grandson, Henry of Mandan, ND and William and Gabrielle (Nuelle) of West Fargo, ND. He is also survived by his siblings Leann (Don) Frieler, Lake Park, MN, Steve Rage, Moorhead, MN and Danny (Julie Gade), Grand Forks, ND; as well as his Mother-in-law Carol Wetsch, Brother-in-law Rod (Tanya) Wetsch, Sister-in-laws, Lori (Dave) Laschkewitsch, Lisa (Mark) Larson all of Bismarck and Liddy (John) Achter, Menomonie, WI and many adored nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Cheryl Rage and father-in-law, Raymond Wetsch; as well as grandparents, Selmer and Emma (Dahl) Rage and Rudy and Ellen (Eklund) Fetting.