Dale Robert Jordan

Dale Robert Jordan, age 79, of Lusk entered eternal rest at Prairie Pines Care Facility in Lusk, Wyoming on February 8, 2022. A celebration of his life will be held February 12, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds in Lusk with Pastor Tom Strock officiating. Interment will follow in the Bodarc Cemetery northeast of Harrison, Nebraska.

Dale was born December 26, 1942, at the Leona Dout Maternity Hospital in Harrison, Nebraska to Dan and Velma Zimmerman Jordan. His cousin, Susie Price, always claimed his birth booted her out of the incubator.

Dale grew up on the family ranch in the Indian Creek area. Almost every Sunday as a kid he spent at one grandparent’s home or the other playing with his cousins. He attended the Indian Creek School (a one-room school 10 miles from the ranch) through the 8th grade. He then boarded in town with the Graham family through High School. He was a member of the FFA club and did well raising and showing hogs (earning the nickname of “Hogman” from his favorite teacher Bob Bramlet). Dale graduated from Niobrara County High School in 1960.

Dale was known for his mechanic ability and driving skills. These started at a very young age. One of his first driving experiences was when he was about 5 or 6 which ended in him crashing the family car through the grocery store in Lusk. It also upset his uncle Quentin Sampont when Dale’s mother sent that “little guy” on that big tractor to pull him and his Cadillac out of the creek, but as you might guess, the “little guy” was successful. Living as far as the Jordan ranch was from town, Dale never wanted to leave without a full tank of gas. His sister Sherry described his prowess at filling up a car, “He could bounce a car enough you couldn’t squeeze another teaspoon into the gas tank!” Any of you who have ever ridden with Dale can attest that he loved driving fast. He burned up many miles driving between Lusk and Harrison impressing many friends and relatives (maybe even a cop or two) with his fast driving skills. He carried this skill set from high school and throughout his life.

He married Dorothy Buckley on July 31, 1962, in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri while serving in the National Guard. To this union, Diana, Danese, and Dean were born and the 5 DJs were complete. He worked beside his father on the family ranch until the fall of 1978 when he and his family moved to Lusk. He then worked 1 year at Wasson Chevrolet as a mechanic. He returned briefly to the family ranch until given the opportunity to move back into town and work for the State of Wyoming Highway Department. He was a mechanic there for 25 years before retiring. This retirement was short-lived as he immediately went to work at Hiway Brake and Alignment until his loving wife also retired.

Diana, Danese, and Dean learned hundreds of "road trip" songs while growing up like “Found A Peanut”, “There is a Hole in the Bucket”, and “The Cutest Little Ford” on the endless trips to and from Lusk and Harrison. However, listening to him sing solo on songs like “The Letter Edged in Black”, “Little Joe the Wrangler”, “My Daddy Is Only A Picture”, and “Red River Valley” were always their favorites.

Dale and Dorothy hosted numerous ice skating parties at the ranch with 25-50 people from all over the county showing up each time. The pot of chili seemed to always be big enough and no one remembers a time that they ever ran out of beer.

Dale spent many hours on various dance floors of the bars and square dance halls with Dorothy. They were passionate enough about their dancing that they even had matching hoodies made (much to the embarrassment of their children) with the CB handles of Polka King and Polka Dot on their backs. Together Dale and Dorothy taught ballroom dancing in which they shared their skills on the dance floor with members of the community. Dale’s children loved to watch their parents dance and his girls loved to dance with him.

His love of card playing (better described as socializing) was demonstrated with many hours of playing bridge, pinochle, or pitch with a smile on his face. The cousins he played with on Sundays as a kid became partners and opponents in card games as adults. Anyone who played with him can tell you, Dale HAD to have the bid. The word “pass” was never a regular part of his vocabulary. He also rarely missed a Calcutta or auction of any kind. He was never shy in raising his hand to bid, much to Dorothy’s dismay.

Dale was active in the community most of his adult life. Activities he was involved in include: the resurrection of the Legend of Rawhide, becoming an EMT with the rescue unit, the Pony Express, and a member of the ASCS board. He and his sister Carol were charter members of the Niobrara Alumni Board. A member of his family has been on the board almost every year since it was founded. Dale was active in the Elks and late in life became a member of the Lusk Baptist Church.

Dale was known to drop everything to help those in need. He spent many days moving friends and family no matter the distance that he needed to pull his trailer. Some people were even moved while they were out of town because the crew was already set up. It would be hard to calculate the number of vehicles that were revived by his mechanical skills. Whether being called by friends or relatives or just stopping to help a stranger on the side of the road, Dale would always drop everything to get vehicles up and running. He and his friends were always able to bring engines back to life regardless of how many “Silver Bullets” it took.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law Carol and Durl Holtz; infant niece Dixie Lee Holtz; niece Pamela Rising and nephew Kendy Rising.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his daughter Diana Martin of Gering, NE., daughter and son-in-law Danese and Jeff Reed of Lusk, WY and his son and daughter-in-law Dean and Kathleen Jordan of Windsor, CO; his sister and brother-in-law Sherry and Jack Larson of Scottsbluff, NE; his grandchildren, LaTessa Martin (Anthony), Maggie (Joe) Collins, Mitchell Martin, Kaylee (Trevor) Barner, Kristen (James) Reed, and Jordan (Jessie) Reed; twelve great-grandchildren, Christopher, Emerleigh, Crosby, Aurora, Briana, Raelyn, Joseph Junior (JJ), Roarke, Ramsey, Odin, Quinn, and Piper; his uncle Keith (Olita) Zimmerman and a host of relatives and friends for whom he cared dearly.

For those who wish, memorials to the Prairie Pines Nursing Home, Lusk Baptist Church, or the Niobrara Alumni Association would be appreciated by the family.

Pier Funeral Home of Lusk was in charge of arrangements.

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