DALE LAWRENCE

DALE LAWRENCE YOUNG

     Dale Lawrence Young, 67, of Cataract, WI, passed away peacefully, after a 13-year battle with multiple myeloma (bone cancer), on Father’s Day June 15, 2025, in Black River Falls, WI, at Pine View Care Center. 

     Visitation was held Sunday, June 22, 2025, 12 to 3 p.m. at Torgerson’s Funeral Home on Water Street in Black River Falls. A funeral service followed from 3 to 4 p.m. with Chaplain Jesse Seehafer officiating. After the service, all were invited to a reception. Burial will be held at a later date in the Cataract Cemetery.

     Dale was born in Sparta, WI, to Bert Lawrence Young and Delores Helen (Sanders) Young Aug. 15, 1957. He graduated from Melrose-Mindoro High School in 1975. Shortly after high school, he followed his admired father’s footsteps by joining the U.S. Army and was a SPC after the Vietnam War had just ended. He was stationed in Germany for a little over a year. After his military service, he had shared many stories of the times he worked as a school bus driver, a Fort McCoy transportation bus driver, a dishwasher and a pulper. 

     In 1986 he married Peggy Lee Brown of Racine, WI. She had two sons, David and Donald, with Arthur Brown, who preceded her in death in 1983. Together Dale and Peggy had twins, Bert II and Ben, in the fall of 1986. They accredited much influential mentoring by the older sons David and Donald while living on the Young’s Homestead aka: “the farm” in Cataract, WI. 

     Dale adored his mother who in turn greatly revered her grandchildren. He enjoyed cutting wood with his cousin, Marlin Huber ,and his kids. He could often be seen walking around Melrose, striking up conversations with those outside the Melrose Express or L & M Café. He enjoyed taking his sons to visit elder family members to “hear their stories of the past and know where they came from.” Not only did Dale like to visit family but he cherished visitors of all kinds to just stop on by, no notice needed. His kids share many memories of these visitors and the “unlocked” and always open-door policy. He took pride in that his kids had the opportunity to be self-governed hunters--whether it was a trip up the South Hill, Huckleberry Hill, The Pond, The Big Oak, Machinery City, Five Acre, Jack-Pine Field, up the Saddle or to the Apex of all deer huntin’ telling stories--the Second Spring. We will miss his great talent of telling these historical and endearing stories.

     Dale is preceded in death by his parents, Bert (1982) and Delores (2016); and his previous wife, Peggy Brown in 2016.

     Dale is survived by his four sons and their families, David (Deanne) Brown of Eau Claire and their children, Christa Fawcett (great-grandchildren Myles and Kash Lofgren), Dex (Xitlali) Brown and Desiree Brown; Donald (Crystal) Brown of Tomah and their children, Trinity Nichols, Bryson Nichols, Piper Brown, Tulsey Brown, Annora Bries, Ripp Brown and Wheeler Brown; Bert Young of Sparta and his children, Ayden Young, Bert Young III and Alexia Young, and lastly, Ben (Afton) Young of Eau Claire; and two sisters, Debbie (Jesse) Ball of Rochester, MN, and Pamela Lehmeier of Winona, MN.

     Dale’s family wishes to extend our sincerest thanks to the VA medical staff of Tomah; Tanner at ADRC of Jackson County; Dr. Parsons of Gundersen; all of the compassionate nurses and CNAs at Pine View Care Center--of note: Cass, Jaime, Breanna and Lacey; and also, to the staff of St. Croix Hospice--of note: Chaplain Matt. You all treated Dale’s needs as a priority no matter the circumstances. Everyone involved with his care truly are a testament to the adage “It takes a village.”