Dale Marine Bardo

Dale Marine Bardo

Dale Marine Bardo was born May 20, 1912 at Platte, S.D., the younger of two sons of Earl Melvin and Elsie May (Blue) Bardo. After three years at Kalispell, Montana, the family moved in 1915 to Lander, Wyo. Dale's father died of typhoid fever in 1919, leaving his widow to rear Dale and Gerald.

Dale was educated in the Lander schools, graduating from high school in 1930. He was introduced to the printing trade at the Wyoming State Journal when he was in eighth grade after years of being a newsboy. He became proficient as a linotype operator during high school, earning money toward college education. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan University two years, then graduated in 1934 from the University of Nebraska, both schools in Lincoln, with a degree in journalism.

The Lander Journal and its owner, L.L. Newton, took their former employee in at $10 a week, following his graduation-jobs were few; salaries were low everywhere. During that period, Dale taught a high school journalism class and supervised University of Wyoming extension classes.

Dale's first job after college was in 1935 with a weekly newspaper at Wahoo, Neb., where he joined brother Gerald on the staff. There he met Helen Towler, who had come from Minneapolis to visit her sister Jane (Mrs. Gerald Bardo) and husband.

Dale and Helen Towler were married at Richfield Methodist Church, Minneapolis on October 10, 1936. From Wahoo they moved to Toledo, Iowa where Dale was employed as news-advertising man on the weekly newspaper. Daughter Susan was born in Toledo. A few months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Dale accepted a similar position with the Garner Iowa weekly. Son Richard was born there. As a father and a member of an older age group and essential industry, Dale was not called to service until late in World War II. That call was canceled as the war neared conclusion.

In 1946, Dale became manager of the Plentywood Montana Herald. Then in 1948, Dale joined The Lusk Herald, primarily as linotype operator, the Herald being owned by brother Gerald and J.B. Griffith, Sr. At the Herald he did composition on many books, state publications, newspaper, complicated tabular work, as well as the bulk of the setting of the weekly Herald, and routine composition. He also performed printing operations, and some newspaper writings. The latter included publicity duties on behalf of various organizations and activities. A great pride of the Herald and Dale was the Wyoming State Historical department "Annals of Wyoming," published by the Herald and composed by Dale twice yearly for many years. This was a first class volume in book form.

Dale retired in October 1982, having participated in the Herald transition from letterpress to offset printing, and having mastered the new computerized phototypesetting machines.

Dale was extensively involved in instrumental and vocal music. He was a self-taught trumpet player. During high school he played in the school orchestra, Lander Municipal Band, dance orchestras, and provided the musical accompaniment for summer church camps. He was a member of the Nebraska Wesleyan University and University of Nebraska bands.

In the Nebraska R.O.T.C. unit, he not only ranked as a lieutenant, but also placed second to a fine arts student in the solo cornet section.

During college summers, he helped organize jazz dance orchestras at Lander; also at Lander he directed a successful church orchestra after college. In Toledo, Iowa Dale and wife Helen, at the piano, were part of the well-instrumented Toledo Little Symphony. His interest in music led to over 30 years of singing, which included church choirs and the Wesleyan University men's glee club and mixed chorus.

Active in church for most of his life, Dale served in many capacities, including committee work and the teaching of Sunday School. He was a member of the Lusk Congregational Church.

He helped initiate two Lusk programs, Head Start and Meals on Wheels, and served on the boards of both. He served on a Boy Scout committee, was largely responsible for the National Humanities Series programs in Lusk, and served as chairman in organizing and directing the Dr. Walter E. Reckling Memorial projects. The latter included huge world globes in the Niobrara County Library and High School, as well as a Stair-Glide stairway elevator project, which makes accessible to the handicapped, the main and upstairs portions of the county Stagecoach Museum.

Dale served six years performing an unusual service for the highly regarded Wyoming Federation of Women's Clubs (WFWC). He accepted appointment as publicity manager, preparing articles of his choice for the public press and radio. He was named by Mrs. Iras Trover, Riverton, then president of WFWC, and continued the work at the request of the two following administrations. He was an honorary member of the WFWC executive board. As a result of these activities and Helen's extensive involvement with WFWC, they attended annual board meetings of WFWC around the state.

Dale enjoyed Wyoming's great outdoors, especially a love of trout fishing, primarily in the mountains outside of Lander. In later years, the Bardos enjoyed several trans-ocean cruises, the first of which celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1986.

In 1993 Dale published a book entitled "Mrs. Barriers," about Helen's extensive volunteer work, particularly her successful promotional and lobbying efforts of the Wyoming Legislature to eliminate architectural barriers for handicapped people.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bardo were included in the Lusk Herald publication of "Movers and Shakers of the 20th Century," nominated by the Lusk Herald staff.

He is survived by his brother Gerald of Lusk; daughter Mrs. John (Susan) Halberd of Porterville, Calif.; son Richard D. Bardo of Adelphi, Md., two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Helen.

Dale passed away on Monday at the Community Hospital in Torrington. Services were held Monday, June 12, at the Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home in Lusk with the Rev. Helen Oates officiating. Interment followed in the Lusk Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in Dale's name of the donor's choice.

Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements

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