Dale K. Park, 95 years of age, of Mankato passed away Friday, March 20, 2026 at the
Jewell County Hospital in Mankato Kansas. He was born on January 11, 1931 in Hays,
Kansas to Loyd "Jim" G. and Alice H. (Somer) Park.
He got his first job at the age of 13 at the State Park just south of Hays. Dale learned to
drive while working there since his family did not own a motor vehicle. If they went
anywhere they walked or took the train. His father was the freight agent and cashier for
the Union Pacific R.R. for 50 years and five months. Dale also worked for the Grass
Brothers Grocery store delivering groceries.
Dale was a 1949 graduate of Hays High School. Shortly after graduation Dale started
working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. During those 32 years Dale was a
dedicated employee. He did everything from lineman, installation, switching out party
line oak wall phones to dial, and lots of pole climbing. He often wished he had all those
old oak phones that they took out. His work took him all over the State of Kansas. Dale
"went permanent" as Combination-man for Mankato in 1959, parking the family trailer
house at the Sleepy Hollow Motel and Trailer Park. Later the family moved into the
house on North Center Street. After retiring from the telephone company, Dale worked
for Collins Plumbing in Beloit, Kansas.
Dale's two lifetime joys were airplanes (he built models with motors and radio controls in
his childhood home) and his second was his radio receiver and transmitter. The
equipment was first located in the bedroom of the trailer house and later in a special
room he built in the basement in Mankato house. In 1959 he was asked to become a
part of M.A.R.S. (which stands for; Military Affiliated Radio Service) By 1994 he had
logged 18,055 hours in the MARS operation, stating; " I just do what I can."
"According to Park (as reported in the September 8, 1994 Jewell County News), his
most memorable moment as radio operator, came when he was copying teletype.
‘Something began coming that I couldn't figure out. They were talking about airplanes
moving and bombing Cuba, I ran upstairs and turned on the television and waited for
the news to come on. Then the nation learned what I had heard was the preparation for
what later was named The Bay of Pigs. I'll never forget that moment."
Dale belonged to the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, attended the Mankato
Harmony Methodist Church and later the Nazarene Church Burr Oak Kansas. Dale was
a faithful member of the Mankato Senior Center. He helped out wherever he was
needed, even driving the site limousine. Dale was a member of the Telephone Pioneers
of America.
Dale is survived by his daughters, Laura McClure, (John) Osborne, Ks; Diane
Burbridge, Osborne, Ks; Grandsons, Darryn (Rhonda) Menhusen, and Justin (Kim)
Menhusen; Justin Stahl and AJ Fettig; Granddaughter, Sarah, (Landon Goss) Mankato
Ks; Great-Grandson, Joshua Menhusen; Great-Grand Daughters, Shelby Grout, Nicole
Ballou (Dave); Great-Great Grandsons, Sabastian and Elijah, Mankato Ks; and Maddix,
Mason, Maverick, and Willie; Cousins; Gayle Michel Carmichael Ca., Sandy Burke,
Ames, IA, and Deborah Crockett, Kansas City, MO.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Loyd and Alice Park: his wife, Dorothy Louise
Kirkbride Park: one daughter, Jerri Sue Park; one son James Jay Park; and wife
Pawnee Wooten Park.
It was Dale's wishes to be cremated and a Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at
the Mankato Ks. Senior Center, on Saturday, June 6 th at 2:00 p.m. A private Inurnment
will be held at the Mt. Allen Cemetery, Hays, Kansas at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Mankato Senior Center or to the charity of your choice
(in care of Melby Mortuary), PO Box 384, Mankato, Kansas.
Condolences may be left online at www.melbymortuary.com