Husband of Jan Torkelson Johansen dies

 

 

Husband of Jan Torkelson Johansen dies

A memorial service for Harold Dale Johansen, 83, of Hays, Kan., was held Friday, Jan. 25, at First Presbyterian Church in Hays, Kan. 

Interment was in Mount Allen Cemetery in Hays, Kan., with full military honors.

Dale’s death occurred Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at his home.  

Harold Dale Johansen was born Aug. 16, 1929, in Coulter, Iowa, to Carl and Agnes Johansen. 

In 1951, Dale was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in the Army Security Agency at Vint Hill Farms, a base outside of Washington, D.C. 

  He married Janice Torkelson on Dec. 29, 1955, in Elgin.  

Dale received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls.  He earned his Ph.D. degree in 1963 from the University of Iowa.  

Dale, Jan, and son Tom moved to Wayne, Neb., where he began in administration at Wayne State College.  

In August 1976, Dale took a job with Fort Hays Kansas State College, now Fort Hays State University, as chairman of the business department in the School of Arts and Sciences.  He was instrumental in forming the School of Business at FHSU and became the first dean of the School of Business in 1978.  In 1981, he was appointed as the vice president of Administration and Finance at FHSU and remained in that position until he retired in 1991.  

Dale was a true family man.  As a young boy at age 9, his mother suffered a stroke, which paralyzed her on the right side.  Dale and his dad became very close as they worked very hard to take care of his mom and the household.  Throughout his life, he was a concerned and loving son, husband, father, and grandfather.  Whether it was watching cartoons with his granddaughters or attending family events, Dale supported his family with love and compassion.

He was very active in sports, particularly baseball and basketball.  Upon graduation from high school in 1946, Dale began a prolific career as a pitcher in Iowa fast-pitch softball.  He started with the Coulter Cubs, then played for several teams through the 1950s. Considered one of the top pitchers in the history of Iowa fast-pitch softball, Dale was inducted into the Iowa Fast-Pitch Hall of Fame in 1989.  

In retirement, Dale and Jan enjoyed traveling to watch their granddaughters’ various activities.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Jan, of the home; son Tom  (Vicki) Johansen of Stillwater, Okla.; daughter Mary (Mike) Martin of Hays, Kan.; four grandchildren, Elise Johansen (Alexander) Harvey of Lincoln, Neb., Kiley Johansen, Madelyn and Molly Martin, all of Hays, Kan.  

Memorials are suggested to Hospice at Hays Medical Center, 2220 Canterbury Drive, Hays, KS 67601.

 
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