Dale K. Park

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