The Funeral Service for Dale Kroger will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Kahler Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation on Tuesday will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the family will be present to greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. To leave condolences please visit www.kahlerfh.com.

Dale Kroger was born on May 21, 1947 in Sioux Falls, SD, the son of Darrell Kroger and Dolores (Geraets) Kroger. He grew up and attended school in Dell Rapids and graduated from St. Mary High School in 1965. Dale entered the U.S. Navy in 1965. He served 20 years of ship and shore assignments, including Viet Nam, Germany, the Philippines, Hawaii, and several bases in the United States. Dale earned the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After his discharge in 1985, Dale worked at St. Michael Cemetery and Cummins Engines, both in Sioux Falls. He retired in 2009.

After a heroic four year battle with lung cancer, Dale quietly passed away on Sunday, October 19, 2014 at the Veteran’s Hospital in Sioux Falls. He was 67 and was preceded in death by his father; his step-father, Nick Salviola; his grandparents; and several aunts and uncles.

Dale served on the Board of Directors of the U.S.S. South Dakota Battleship Memorial; was an active member of the Tri-State Navy Chief Petty Officers Association in Sioux Falls; was a member of the American Legion Post and VFW Post in Sioux Falls; and was a fan of NASCAR racing.

He is survived by his mother, Dolores Salviola of Dell Rapids; his four sisters, Sandy (Dean) Helton of Polo, IL, Linda (Glenn) Bryson of Payson, AZ, Dianne (Ross Goetz) Kroger of Dell Rapids, SD, and Deb (Mark) Duby of Peoria, AZ; three nieces and one nephew; two great-nieces and two great-nephews; two aunts; and many cousins and friends.