Aug. 17, 1950 - May 20, 2023
Date of Service: Jun. 1, 2023
BURLEY – Alan “Dale” Martin, a 72-year-old resident of Burley, passed away Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Cassia Regional Hospital, in Burley.
Dale was born in Durham, North Carolina, to James Maynard and Virginia Noris (Johnson) Martin. He joined a sister, Cheryl. When he was about three years old, Dale and his family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he went to kindergarten at the age of five. When the school year was over, the family moved to Santa Ana, California. While growing up in Santa Ana, his mom worked at Disneyland when it opened in 1955. Because she worked there, the family got free tickets every month, so he spent a lot of time there.
By 1972, Dale was out of school and working at Lara’s Potato Chip factory as a security guard in Anaheim, California. His sister, Cheryl, and her family had moved to Paul, Idaho. Dale’s brother-in-law, Don Pierce, had learned of some property in Elk Bend, Idaho, along the Salmon River, which he bought. Don talked Dale into buying a lot and they would together build a cabin. In 1974, Don was killed in a canoeing accident at Lake Walcott, at which time Dale moved to Idaho to help Cheryl with the kids.
Dale started to work for J.R. Simplot, in 1975, in the freezer, later becoming a mechanic and welder in the machine shop. It was here that he met the love of his life, Sherrie Helms, in 1977. They were married in August 1978. At this time, Dale became an instant father to three daughters, which he loved and cherished. When Dale moved from California, his friends told him to find a rich farmer’s daughter to marry. Sherrie always joked with him, “Well, you got it half right.”
In the summer of 1977, Dale and some friends started stock car racing at the Rupert fairgrounds. In 1978, Sherrie and the girls joined the team. Dale would build the cars, Merlin Van Riper would take care of the engines and Sherrie began her love of racing. In 1979, and engine needed to be changed out of one of the race cars. Merlin’s wife had a Grand Am, so Dale and Merlin took the engine out of the stock car and replaced it with the Grand Am engine to go racing on Sunday. After the races were over they put the engine back in the Grand Am. Dale and Sherrie spent many hours watching stock car races in Twin Falls and NASCAR. Dale’s favorite drivers were Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale still had his property at Elk Bend and thoroughly enjoyed taking the family to Elk Bend for Easter. Later, when grandkids came along, he enjoyed taking them up and letting them swim in the Salmon River. He truly enjoyed his time spent there.
In 1986, Dale and the family moved to View, Idaho, where he made many friends. The first person he met that day when they were moving into the home was Brent Stoker. Brent was the first of many people Dale would call his friend. He truly enjoyed visiting with everyone he met. The family would like to thank the whole community for all the care over the years.
In 1993, Dale became a member of the Burley Elks Lodge. Later, the Burley Elks and the Rupert Elks became one. Dale served in several offices including Secretary-Treasurer for over 15 years. He was awarded Officer of the Year and served as Exalted Ruler. He was excited to be awarded the Life Membership as of April 30, 2023. He was proud to be an Elk and enjoyed visiting with many lodges in his travels throughout the states. Dale was very proud of his grandson, Cameron Weeks, for joining the Elks. Dale had the honor of installing Cameron in the chairs. Dale was looking forward to this summer convention coming up in June as well as going to Austin, Texas, with Cameron next year for the national convention.
In 2005, Dale retired and while Sherrie was still working he told her he would do all the cooking from then on. Dale was a fabulous cook. He would share whatever he cooked with anyone who happened to stop by. He was well known for his chili and joked that this was the reason Sherrie married him. It took him a long time to learn how to cook for two or three people. He always made enough to share or eat on for several days. When our daughter was living at the house, Dale and Sherrie would be going on vacation somewhere so he would fix her a six quart pan of spaghetti or a large cookie sheet of enchiladas. He always wanted to make sure there was enough food.
Dale’s greatest joys were visiting with family and friends. He was proud of all his girls and grandkids and great-grandkids. He was proud of, and bragged about what all of them have done with their lives. A couple more of his greatest joys were his 45 years of marriage, his children, grandchildren, and the many friends he made throughout his life.
Dale is survived by his fur baby, Squirt a.k.a Turd; his wife of 45 years, Sherrie; his daughters, Kalyn Helms of Heyburn, Teresa (Derrick) O’Dell of Kimberly, and Irene (Gary) Miller of McCool Junction, Nebraska; grandchildren, Alec (Tara) Helms, Brandon Weeks, Cameron Weeks, Raymond O’Dell (Gloria), Tyler O’Dell, Ashley Reynolds (Draven), Alicia (Cody) Rempel, Jared (Ryleigh) Miller; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; three nieces, Crystal (Victor) Vance, Candi (Nick) Hunter (four children), Tammy Duffey; and two nephews, Cory (Tori) Klinge, and Josh Draper. Dale was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister.
The family wishes to thank the friends and neighbors who have helped in some way over the years. The family would also like to thank the EMT units who responded to care for him, the ER hospital Dr. Boehmer, the ER nurses, and the hospital staff. As well as Dr. Walter Graham, Dr. Elliot, Dr. Brown, and the medical staff at the Intermountain Healthcare in Murray, Utah, for the last 20 years of health care.
There will be a celebration of life, on Thursday June 1, 2023, at the View Church, located at 554 South 490 East, in Burley from 5 until 7 p.m.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.
