Charlene Dale, 80
Charlene Dale, 80, died on Nov. 20, 2023, at Logan Health Hospital in Whitefish, Montana.
She was born on Feb. 13, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Lucius (Phil) and Audrey Stark.
In 1950, the family moved to Fort Atkinson, where Char enjoyed visiting the nearby family farm, chasing cows, driving the tractor, and swinging in the hayloft.
She graduated from Fort Atkinson Senior High School in 1961 and St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Racine in 1964.
When the family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1981, Char began to focus on elderly care and eventually hospice care. She became a highly sought after speaker and consultant and won the National Hospice Organization President’s Award of Excellence.
Char and her second husband, William Dale, moved to Flathead Valley in 1997, where they built and managed Prestige Assisted Living in Kalispell, the Springs at Whitefish, and Rising Mountains Assisted Living in Big Fork.
Her contributions continue to impact the fields of assisted living care and hospice education. In 2008, she published an autobiography focused on profession, faith, and family entitled, "Sometimes Sinner, Sometimes Saint."
She is remembered among her family and friends as a professional busybody, ferocious house cleaner, more times than not at 4 a.m., skilled cook and baker, dedicated flower arranger, lover of nature, popcorn, and ice cream, committed cribbage and card player, and enthusiastic hugger.
She is survived by her older sister, Judi; younger sister, Jane; and their families. Her four children and their spouses, Marty Loberg (Amber) of Edmonds, Oklahoma; Michael Loberg (Natalie) of Fort Collins, Colorado; Marc Loberg (Abby) of Granby, Colorado; and Dr. Molly Loberg (James) of San Luis Obispo, California ; and her eight grandchildren, Alexa, Keegan, Canon, Brighton, Taylor, Gabe, Aiden, and Pascale.
Her passing has left a huge hole in this world for her family, her friends, and those patients and families who benefited from her care. She will be missed.