Lawrence “Dale” Englert, age 78, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Dec. 21, 2018 in Omak, Washington. He was doing what he liked to do, collecting pallets for wood, when he passed. He spent Christmas in heaven with Jesus and his wife of 58 years, Bonnie.
Dale was born at home in Ferndale to Lawrence and Elsie Englert. He grew up in Lynden where he attended school and church at Lynden Assembly of God. Dale entered the U.S. Army after graduation and returned mid-service to marry Bonnie Stacey and took his bride back with him to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There they had their first child. After his service was up, they returned to Whatcom County, bought a small home in Everson, and had three more children.
Dale was a very active member of his church; he would do anything for his church family — running sound booth, driving church vans, and ushering. Dale’s passion was Royal Rangers boys group at church. Dale started being a leader in the late 1960s and was still leading upon his death. Dale loved working the derby cars, fishing and camping with the boys. He attended all the rallies he could. Dale loved the outdoors, as in hiking, camping and fishing, all his life. Dale’s favorite thing was to bank fish for trout in any lake that was worth fishing! Dale loved to work in his shop whenever he could as well.
Dale worked for Georgia-Pacific for a year out of the army. He then became employed by DeWaard & Bode appliance repair and made a 43-year career of it. Upon his retiring, Dale and Bonnie moved to Riverside, Washington. Eastern Washington was treasured for fishing and hunting, and a camping spot for Dale, so they decided to go there.
Dale will be missed by many friends all over the state of Washington.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Elsie Englert; his wife, Bonnie; and infant son Carl Lawrence Englert.
Dale is survived by four children, Debra Buerger of Birch Bay, Dennis and Mei Englert of Custer, Bryan Englert and Renee Englert of Riverside; two brothers, David Englert and Philip and Pearl Englert; two sisters, Carol Edinger and Kathleen Kaatz; 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and cousins.
A memorial service to celebrate Dale’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, in the Riverside Light House Church in Riverside, north-central Washington.
