Dale Norman Garness, 75, of Mabel, died on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at his home surrounded by family and friends following a courageous battle with cancer.
Dale was born November 15, 1949, in Spring Grove to Burnell and Berneice (Larson) Garness. He grew up on the family farm in rural Mabel and graduated from the Mabel High School in 1967. He served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1970 and was stationed in the Korean DMZ. On October 26, 1973, he married Jennifer Tweeten. He farmed, hauled milk, and did custom baling with his brother Donnie for several years. Jennifer passed away on October 19, 2021.
Dale enjoyed playing cards, bowling, watching shows on military history and the outdoors, and going for boat rides with friends.
Dale is survived by his children Amy (Jeremy) Lee, and Matthew (Brooke) Garness, his grandchildren Kyle and Breanna Lee, and Samuel, Henry and Everett Garness; sisters and brother Barbara Vang (Donald) of Pine Island, Ione (Rodney) Newgard of Mabel, Karen (James) Connolly of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Dean Garness of Mabel; mother-in-law Geneva Tweeten, sisters and brother-in-law Joan Garness, Marsha Tweeten Wolfgram, Michael (Donna) Tweeten and Taresa Tweeten; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jennifer, parents Burnell and Berneice, brothers Donald and Ronald, and father-in-law Morris Tweeten.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 29, at the Mabel Area Community Center in Mabel. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, March 28, at the community center. Burial with military honors will be in the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery.
The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.