Dale F. Jensen, 83, of Arlington,  died Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.  

A celebration of life service has been set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Arlington United Methodist Church in Arlington.  Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Arlington United Methodist Church with a 6:30 p.m. time of sharing service.  Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. 

Dale was born Jan. 25, 1934, on his family farm in Spring Lake Township, Kingsbury County to Nels and Emma Jensen. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1952. On Aug. 31, 1954, he married Darla Torgrude. He was blessed with four children, Sharla, Gregg, Blake and Peggy. 

Dale worked for Electric Power Company, Dunn & Bradstreet, Sexauer Elevator, Community Oil Company and Torgrude Construction. In 1957 he pursued his dream of farming until his retirement. While farming, he also worked for the City of Arlington and Minnesota Valley Breeders Association. 

 Dale was a member of Jaycees, Sioux Valley Advisory Board, Tri-Palms Shuffle Board team and the United Methodist Church of Arlington. 

 His family was important to Dale. He loved to watch his kids, grandkids and great grandkids in their activities. He provided the first driving lesson to many grandchildren, and loved to play cards with them. 

Dale loved his “toys” and could be seen driving around in his 4-wheeler, many times with his great-grandchildren, or tooling around Tri-Palms neighborhood in his golf cart or convertible with the top down. In his early years he spent most weekends at Lake Poinsett boating and water skiing. Since his retirement in 1995, he and Darla spent their winters in California. He took up shuffleboard, winning many tournaments. He won the Sinai Tractor Pull in the 80’s. 

Dale enjoyed traveling, taking trips to Mexico, Hawaii, England and Scotland. He loved his annual deer hunting trips to Faith, when he was younger. 

 Dale is survived by his wife of 64 years, Darla, four children, Sharla Jensen (Bill Sudakis), LaQuinta, Calif., Gregg (Diane) Jensen, Livermore Iowa, Blake (Dawn) Jensen of Arlingto and Peggy Sorenson, Aurora, Colo.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Phyllis Ellis of Canton, Bonnie (Jim) Pritcherd of Geneva, Ill., and Carol Suggett of Salinas, Calif., and many nieces and nephews. 

 He was preceded in death by his granddaughter Brooke Jensen and grandson Niko Allen. 

 Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.