Dale Richardson

Dale Richardson passed away peacefully at home under hospice care on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from complications of ALS. He was 81.

Born on January 31, 1944, to I.O. and Iola Richardson, Dale grew up in the Traer and Dinsdale area and graduated from Dinsdale High School in 1962. After graduation, Dale began his career driving trucks for Murray Whannel out of Traer and later worked at the Buckingham Coop. In 1969, he became the manager of Voorhies Grain, a position he held for 40 years until his retirement in 2009. Even after retirement, Dale stayed active, driving trucks for PCI and enjoying a new chapter in his life.

Dale married Kathy Smith, and together they had two daughters, Jodi and Jill. They later divorced. In 1990, he married Patti Ehlers Petersen, and together they shared 35 wonderful years.

Known for his warmth and easygoing nature, Dale never met a person he couldn’t strike up a conversation with. He had a gift for connecting with people and truly enjoyed visiting with everyone he met.

Dale is survived by his wife, Patti; his daughters, Jodi (Mike) Cale of Lincoln, NE, and Jill Swangel of Cedar Falls; his stepchildren, Josh (Ashley) Petersen of Waverly, and Jill (Jordan) Muller of Reinbeck; and his brother, Mike Richardson of Tama. He was a proud grandfather to 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

In accordance with Dale’s wishes, a celebration of life will be held on Friday, June 20, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Oakleaf Country Club in Reinbeck, where family and friends will raise a glass in honor of a life well lived and a man deeply loved.