Dale "Buzzy" Christensen

Dale D. “Buzzy” Christensen, 95 of Hurley died Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home, Viborg. Funeral services will be at 1:30pm Monday, July 10, 2017 at the Hurley United Methodist Church with burial with full military honors at the Hurley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7pm Sunday at the Hofmeister Jones Funeral Chapel in Hurley. Dale was born on August 19, 1921 in rural Hurley to Carl and Mary Christensen. He grew up on the family farm and lived his entire life in the Hurley area except for the time he served in the US Army. After high school he farmed with his Dad until he entered the service during WW II in 1942 and was assigned to the 89th Infantry Division as a light machine gunner. He was wounded by enemy shrapnel in the line of duty in Germany, on April 11, 1945. After being evacuated to hospitals in England, Scotland, New York City, and Brigham City, Utah he finally entered Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, California and was hospitalized there until November of 1947, when he received an honorable disability discharge, having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was an active member of the Hurley American Legion Post #21 and was awarded the “Legionnaire of the Year” and received a “Certificate of Continuous Membership for 70 years”. He participated in the decoration of Veterans gravesites at the Hurley Cemetery and attended the Memorial Day activities for over 50 years. While in the service he was authorized to wear the following metals and ribbons, The Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Silver Star, Central Europe and Rhineland Campaigns, European, African, Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star. After his discharge he remained on the farm until 1961 when he was appointed Rural Mail Carrier on Route 1 out of Hurley, and continued carrying mail until his retirement in 1986. He was a life member of Samuel W. Kellar, Jr Post #21 American Legion in Hurley, Veteran of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. He enjoyed farm life, carrying mail, gardening, reading, and watching television. Also, enjoyed traveling on bus tours, having traveled over a big part of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Grateful for having shared his life are 10 nieces and nephews, Roger (Marlene) Petersen, John (Janet) Haines, Wayne Petersen, Janet (Kendal) Tronbak, Dianne (LaRohn) Hagena, Rob (Kari) Ekeland, Sandy (Terry) Sharp, Deb Ekeland, Greg Haines, and Judy (Tom) Meyer; a brother in law, Norm Ekeland; and numerous great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 sisters, Gerry, Muriel, and Elaine.