Dale J. Burke

Theresa A. Burke, 79 SUN CITY WEST - Dale Burke and Theresa Burke, who were residents of Sun City West for many years, died this past summer in Rapid City, SD. Theresa passed away on August 13, 2015 after suffering a severe stroke. Dale passed away on August 18, 2015 from lung cancer. Dale John Burke was born on April 29, 1927 at the family home in Garryowen, IA, the son of Earl and Madeline Burke. Theresa Ann Kaiser was born on September 15, 1935 in Newell, SD, the daughter of David and Lucille Kaiser of the Arpan/Nisland area. Dale graduated from the Garryowen High School in 1944. He entered the United States Air Force Reserves in September of 1944. In 1950, he reenlisted in the United States Air Force His military assignment as an electronics technician eventually stationed him to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Theresa graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1953. Upon graduation, Theresa immediately started a career in healthcare as an office assistant/billing clerk, a profession she continued until her retirement. While stationed at Ellsworth, Dale met Theresa, and they were married at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Belle Fourche on April 29, 1954. Dale and Theresa had four children, Kevin, Kathy, Tim and Howard, while moving around the country as a military family, eventually returning again to Ellsworth and Rapid City. 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. After Theresa's retirement in 1995, Dale and Theresa sold their home in Rapid City and moved to Arizona. Theresa and Dale thoroughly enjoyed their years in Sun City West where they made so many new friends. They graduated through RV's to a park model to a patio home and then to 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 say that Dale and Theresa and their friends in Sun City West knew how to get together and have fun is an understatement. They put the fun in the word "retirement." In Sun City West, Dale continued to be a handy man for the 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 games although they rarely 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 when you received a card or scrapbook from Theresa you knew she had created it with lots of love and especially for you. 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 and Theresa are survived by their three children, Kathy (KJ) (Mike) Peterson, Rapid City, SD; Tim (Ann) Burke of Piedmont, SD; Howard (Deb) Burke of St. Michael, MN; and daughter-in-law, Debra Burke, Tucson, AZ. Grandchildren, Chris (Jessica) Goodart, Lakeland, FL, Neill (Shana) Goodart of Rapid City; Mackenzie and Briana Burke, 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 Burke preceded his parents in death on April 19, 2014. Dale was also preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Lois Scarff and Janis Tetterton, and two brothers, Howard Burke and Patrick Burke. Theresa was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Bob Kaiser and Vincent Kaiser, and sister, Frances Johnson, two brothers-in-law, Bob Upton and Sid Johnson. Dale is survived by his brother, Larry Burke and his wife Bev, San Antonio, TX, sister-in-law, Eleanor Burke, Bernard, IA, brother-in-law, Daryl Tetterton, Dubuque IA and special cousin, Sister Paula Maloy, Dubuque, IA. Theresa is survived by her siblings, Loretta Upton, Montgomery, TX, Jim Kaiser, Belle Fourche, SD; Paul (Pam) Kaiser, Prescott, AZ; Marietta (Ray) Schnitger, Bloomington, IL; Nancy (Ed) Pedneau and Carol (Larry) Vavruska, Spearfish, SD. Sisters-in-law, Dorothy Kaiser, Belle Fourche, and Mary Carol Kaiser, St. Onge, SD. Dale & Theresa are also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members and a host of friends. Mass of Christian burial was held August 28th at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, in Spearfish, SD. Inurnment followed at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.