Dale John Burke was born on April 29, 1927 at the family home in Garryowen, Iowa, the son of Earl and Madeline Burke. Dale, 88, died on August 18, 2015, at Hospice House in Rapid City.

Theresa Ann Kaiser Burke was born on September 15, 1935 in Newell, South Dakota, the daughter of David and Lucille Kaiser, who resided on a farm in the Orman-Arpan area. Theresa, 79, died on August 13, 2015, at Hospice House in Rapid City.

Dale graduated from Garryowen High School in 1944. He entered the United States Air Force Reserves in September of 1944. During this enlistment he was stationed in Japan from March of 1946 to June of 1947. He was discharged from the USAAF in June of 1947. In February 1950, Dale reenlisted in the United States Air Force. His military assignment as a electronics technician eventually led him to Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City.

Theresa graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1953. Upon graduation, Theresa started a career in the medical profession as a receptionist, medical records clerk and billing clerk, a profession she continued until her retirement.

While stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, Dale met Theresa, and they were married at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Belle Fourche, South Dakota on April 29, 1954. They celebrated 61 years of marriage in April of this year.

Dale's 20 years in the military caused he and his family to relocate to numerous bases across the country, from Rapid City to California, Mississippi, Missouri and then to Ellsworth Air Force Base. Dale and Theresa's four children, Kevin, Kathy, Tim and Howard soon learned that relocating to new places and making new friends was just part of being in a military family. Theresa's mother jokingly called Theresa her "gypsy" daughter because she and her family lived in so many different places.

Upon Dale's retirement from the Air Force in March, 1968, he built and sold numerous beautiful homes in Rapid City and remodeled homes and businesses in the area. Later he was also a small business owner, real estate agent, and property manager in Rapid City. Dale was a member of the Elks Club and served as Exalted Ruler for the years 1980-81.

Theresa started her medical billing/receptionist career at John Burns Memorial Hospital in Belle Fourche and continued at St. John's McNamara Hospital. She was also employed at hospitals and medical clinics in the cities where Dale was stationed. Theresa later became employed with the Internal Medicine Group in Rapid City and served as office manager there for many years, retiring in 1995.
After Theresa's retirement, Dale and Theresa decided to sell their home in Rapid City and bought a 5th wheel camper and headed for Arizona. Theresa and Dale thoroughly enjoyed their winters in Sun City West, where they made so many new friends. They eventually graduated to a bigger RV, then went to a park model, then a patio home and eventually bought their last home in Sun City West. They resided there until April of this year when Dale's health brought them back to Rapid City to be closer to his children. During their time in Arizona, trips back to South Dakota became shorter and shorter and eventually they lived in Sun City West year round.

To say that Dale and Theresa and their friends in Sun City West knew how to get together and have fun is an understatement. Theresa's letters or emails home made you tired as she described what she and Dale and the neighborhood had been doing or planned to do for the next day or next week. They put the fun in the word "retirement". Theresa had the uncanny ability to remember every joke she was told and in turn would share those jokes with friends and family. No one could tell a joke better than Theresa, especially Ole and Lena jokes. Although no Norwegian blood was in her, her Norwegian accent came out full force when telling Ole and Lena jokes.

In Sun City West, Dale continued to be the handyman for the whole neighborhood. Both he and Theresa held offices on the board of directors of their homeowner associations. They both enjoyed lawn bowling, and Dale and a group of his friends thoroughly enjoyed their Friday morning golf game although they never kept score. Theresa did volunteer work while in Sun City West. Theresa especially enjoyed her scrapbook friends. Theresa's scrapbooks and her greeting cards were beautifully designed and she made each scrapbook or greeting card very personal to each of the recipients blessed to receive her talented work. Dale's hobby when he wasn't repairing or doing carpentry for someone was building and flying scale model airplanes and he spent many hours in his garage working on the planes. Dale was a past member of the Northern Hills Model Airplane Club.

Dale and Theresa are survived by their three children, Kathy "KJ" (Mike) Peterson, Rapid City, Tim (Ann) Burke of Piedmont, South Dakota, Howard (Deb) Burke of St. Michael, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Debra Burke, Tucson, Arizona; grandchildren, Chris (Jessica) Goodart of Lakeland, FL, Neill (Shana) Goodart of Rapid City, Mackenzie and Briana Burke of St. Michael, MN, Heidi (Mike) Woodford, Rapid City, Adam (Jessica) Messer, Helena, MT; great-grandchildren, Meadow, Emalyn, Kahne and Lylah Goodart, Starr Paul, Nathan and Alyson Johns, and Aderyn Messer.

Dale and Theresa's oldest son, Kevin Dale Burke, Tucson, AZ, preceded them in death, on April 19, 2014.

Dale was also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Howard Burke and Patrick Burke, and two sisters, Lois Scarff and Janis Tetterton.

Theresa was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Robert "Bob" Kaiser and Vincent Kaiser; sister, Frances Kaiser Johnson and brothers-in-law, Bob Upton and Sidney Johnson.

Dale is survived by his brother, Larry (Bev) Burke of San Antonio, Texas; sister-in-law, Eleanor Burke of Bernard, Iowa; brother-in-law, Daryl Tetterton of Dubuque, Iowa, and special cousin, Sister Paula Maloy of Dubuque, Iowa.

Theresa is survived by her brothers, James Kaiser, Belle Fourche, and Paul (Pam) Kaiser, Prescott, Arizona; sisters, Loretta Upton, Montgomery, TX, Marietta (Ray) Schnitger, Bloomington, IL, Nancy (Ed) Pedneau and Carol (Larry) Vavruska, both of Spearfish, SD; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy "Dot" Kaiser, Belle Fourche, SD and Mary Carol Kaiser, St. Onge, SD.

Both Theresa and Dale are also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members and a host of friends.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m., Friday, August 28, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 844 5th St., Spearfish, SD. Burial service will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
Memorials can be directed to the RCRH Hospice House.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com