Dale Durbin

Dale Francis Durbin, son of James and Dagmar Andresen Durbin, was born January 14, 1926 in Audubon County, Iowa, and died on October 15, 2016 in Jefferson, Iowa, at the age of 90.

Funeral Services were held Friday, October 21 at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson with Rev. Julie Poulsen officiating. Jack Anderson gave the eulogy. Casket bearers were Aaron Rucker, Deanna Wasson, Camilla Levario, Mindy Theis, Jered Shriver, Rebecca Cooper, Betsey Seymour, Seth Hane, Joel Hane, Brian Kendrick, the late Kevin Kendrick, Katy Strub, Aimee Bunker and Charlie Hane. Honorary bearers were Rosella Rucker, James Wasson, Ben Levario, Tom Theis, Katrina Shriver, Chris Cooper, Preston Seymour, Amy Hane, Tara Kendrick, Tom Strub and Matt Bunker. “Be Thou My Vision” and “The Old Rugged Cross” were sung by Gary Haupert, accompanied by Danille Curtis and the congregation sang “Blessed Assurance.” Interment was at Orange Township Cemetery, Guthrie County, Iowa.

Dale grew up with 18 brothers and sisters on a farm in Guthrie County, near Coon Rapids, Iowa. He attended grade school at County School Orange III in Guthrie County and he attended high school in Coon Rapids. He served in the United States Army as a T4 ordinance mechanic in Korea during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. In 2014, he went on the honor flight to Washington D.C. to commemorate his service.

On June 14, 1949 he was united in marriage to Bethene Ankenbauer. They moved near Coon Rapids and he worked for Garst Company until 1952, when he began farming near Jamaica. He farmed there for four years, and then in Lohrville for four years, before moving to Greene County where he farmed and raised cattle and hogs for 32 more years.

Dale and Bethene had two children together, Deborah Jean Durbin (Rucker) and Alan Dwayne Durbin. Bethene died on June 24, 1984.

Dale married Helen Stine on November 2, 1985 and they made a home in Jefferson. He enjoyed golfing, playing cards with many friends and family, and most of all, joking and teasing with all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dale was a 4-H leader of the Greene County Hardin Township, served on the board of Lakeside golf club and the Greene County Extension Council, was a member of American Legion, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Jefferson.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Bethene and Helen; eight brothers; five sisters; and one step-grandson. He is survived by his two children, Deborah (David) Rucker of Oklahoma City, OK and Alan Durbin of Jefferson; four step-children: Diane (Loren) Shriver of Estes Park, Colo., Daryl (Sherris) Hane of Cameron, Mo., Sally Kendrick of Des Moines and Charles (Caryn) Hane of Jefferson; brother, Gary (Betty) Durbin of Bayard; four sisters: Elenor Olson of Sioux Falls, S.D., Carolyn (Dick) Lanning of Trenton, Mo., Martha (Merrill) Cady of Sac City, Iowa and Deanna Firebaugh of Pottsboro, Texas; two grandchildren; 11 step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 15 great step-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, www.sliningerschroeder.com.

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