Dale Pike

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 4, 2012 at Hubbard United Methodist Church in Hubbard, MN with Reverend Laurie Kantonen officiating.VISITATION : One hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.INTERMENT : Hubbard Cemetery, Hubbard, MNSURVIVORS : His wife, Edith; 9 children: Sam (Jan), Kay (Jack) Smythe, Nancy (Dick) Bogaard, Charlie, Donnie (Pat), Dick (Sue), Phil (Jody), Kenny and Marie (Mark) Helfrich; 31 grandchildren; 48 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild and his sister, Ardis McClelland. DALE R. PIKENovember 21, 1920 ~ July 31, 2012 Dale Raughla Pike, age 91, a longtime Hubbard Prairie farmer, passed away on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at St. Joseph"s Hospital in Park Rapids, MN. Dale was born on November 21, 1920 in Hubbard, MN to Raughla and Lana (Benham) Pike. He started school in Emmaville Township, returning to Hubbard in the third grade. Dale graduated from the Park Rapids High School in 1940 where he participated in football and track. He enjoyed playing baseball for Hubbard and was known for his constant chatter and long home runs. Dale was united in marriage to Edith LaBonte on October 17, 1942 in Hubbard where they made their home. Their union was blessed with nine children and one foster child. Farming was a passion for Dale, and he provided for his family by dairy farming. He was instrumental in introducing irrigation farming to the Prairie, had one of the first milking parlors in the area and his legacy for growing delicious sweet corn continues to live on generations later. Dale will be fondly remembered for his love of family, farming, baseball, checkers and ice cream. He took great pleasure in his ability to scare passengers riding with him in his airplane and delighted in ejecting family members from inner tubes pulled behind his speed boat. A lifelong jokester with a great sense of humor, Dale loved telling stories of his successful pranks. At his memorial service, you are invited to share the stories he can no longer tell. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Edith; 9 children: Sam (Jan), Kay (Jack) Smythe, Nancy (Dick) Bogaard, Charlie, Donnie (Pat), Dick (Sue), Phil (Jody), Kenny and Marie (Mark) Helfrich; 31 grandchildren; 48 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild and his sister, Ardis McClelland. Dale was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Jerry; his brother, Bruce and his sisters: Marian, Delma, Julia and Barb. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 4, 2012 at the Hubbard United Methodist Church with Pastor Laurie Kantonen officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will follow at the Hubbard Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:Hubbard First Response and RescuePO Box 203Park Rapids, MN 56470