Dale Koch, Plankinton

Dale Koch, 80, Plankinton, died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab, Mitchell, under hospice care.

He was born on March 9, 1932.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church, Plankinton. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Stickney. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bittner Funeral Chapel, Mitchell.

He was born to Matt and Stella Koch on the family farm southwest of White Lake.

At the age of four he moved with his family to Woodburn, Ore., where he attended grade school. In the fall of 1948 they moved back to the farm at White Lake. He graduated from White Lake High School in 1950.

He was drafted into the Army in 1952, serving in Korea and was honorably discharged in 1954.

On January 14, 1959 he married Mary Mairose . They were involved in farming for many years.

He was a member of the White Lake American Legion, Plankinton VFW and a longtime member of AA. Dale overcame a severe addiction to alcohol in 1988 and quit smoking in 1998.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; eight children: David (Karen) Koch; Kathy (Jeff) Schuldt; Donnie Koch; Jerry Koch; Tom (Teresa) Koch; Brian (Becky) Koch; Karen (Mark) Moore; and Ann (Jeff) Gilbert; 26 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, sisters: Joan Markley; Maxine (Bill) Schroeder; Shirley (Dave) Flick; Janet (Dennis) Everson; and brothers: Bernie Koch, and Ron ( Aletha ) Koch.

He was preceded in death by a son, James; step-grandson, Cole Vreugdenhil; and his parents.

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