Dale Clifford Stowers
Friday, September 20th, 1940 – Sunday, August 30th, 2026
Dale slipped the surly bonds of this earth at 1:15 pm on Sunday, August 30th, 2026 while receiving palliative care at Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota.
Dale was born at home in Milaca, Minnesota to Charles Clifford and Grace Eveline (Hardy) Stowers on Friday, September 20th, 1940.
After graduating from Onamia High School, Class of 1959, Dale joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and served honorably as a 1371 Combat Engineer from July 1959 to April 1963. He served in Okinawa, Japan and Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. During his tour of duty at El Toro, Dale was deployed to Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dale was a member of the American Legion and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1215 in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dale married the love of his life, Barbara (Olness) Stowers on Saturday, February 13, 1965. They spent 61 years together and had three sons, Brent, Chad and Dana.
Dale graduated from a 2-year Vocational Technical School as a carpenter and became a Journeyman Carpenter. Throughout his lifetime he primarily worked on construction of all manner of buildings including hi-rise, commercial and residential. Dale also completed a 2-year National Institute of Wood Finishing program at Dakota County Technical College for professional wood finishing, furniture restoration, spot-repair artistry and pre-finishing. Dale retired at 62 in September of 2002 reinforcing his motto “I work to live; I do not live to work”.
Dale had a passion for the outdoors. Whether in Milaca in his youth, in Denver, CO, Backus or Rochester, Minnesota, his love of hunting, trapping and fishing were unmatched. The family never went hungry because Dale was a very skilled hunter! His favorite spots always included a deer stand or blind, checking a trap line, boat, shore or ice fishing, or simply cutting trails in the woods.
Dale lived life on his terms and his way. You never wondered what he thought of you or his thoughts on any subject for that matter because he made sure that you knew what he was thinking. Either real, made-up or embellished, Dale loved to tell stories about hunting, fishing and trapping and was exceptionally well-versed in the nuances of all three.
Rest Now, Your Work is Done. Gone from our Sight, Never from Our Hearts. See you at Pine Mountain Lake.
Military Honors with internment will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery – Preston on September 23rd, 2026 at 11 am.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Milaca American Legion Post #178 in Milaca, Minnesota on Sunday, October 11th, 2026 from Noon until 4 pm.
