Dale R. Kyser, 71

Dale R. Kyser, 71, of Oshkosh passed away December 29, 2023, at Regional West Garden County Hospital in Oshkosh. Dale’s funeral service was held on January 9, 2024, at the Tiger Den in Lewellen. A private burial will be on January 11, 2024, at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, south of Crookston.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations of Oshkosh served the family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to the family to be used to a charity or scholarship of their choice at a later date.

Dale Ray Kyser was born on July 29, 1952, to his parents Roy and Lucille Kyser of Hay Springs. He was the sixth child in a family of one brother and four sisters. He spent his life in Hay Springs, Chadron, Ainsworth, Brule, Oshkosh, Valentine, Torrington and Green River, WY.

Dale was baptized December 1959 at the First United Methodist Church in Hay Springs and was raised in a Christian home. His childhood and teen years were spent in the Hay Springs school system. He participated in a variety of sports all year round. At a young age he learned how to hunt and fish, and how to play the accordion and piano.

Dale graduated from Hay Springs High School in May 1970 and went to college at Chadron State College, running on the CSC track team. He was a member of the CSC Fellowship of Christian Athletes. At CSC he earned his Bachelor of Science in K-12 Education and later a Masters in Guidance Counseling. His first teaching job was in Ainsworth, followed by positions in Brule, Oshkosh, Valentine, and Green River.

On November 15, 1972, Dale lost his left leg above the knee in a PTO accident south of Hay Springs. After that he coached summer basketball camps in Chicago and Nashville, giving motivational talks and sharing his love of the sport with players at all levels. While teaching, Dale pursued a career in coaching basketball, cross country, and track. He was awarded the Wyoming Coaches Association 40 Years of Service Award in 2014-2015.

He also shared his passion for hunting with many kids and adults as a Hunter Safety instructor.

Dale married his wife of 50 years, Carol Jane Riege, on June 24, 1973, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Crookston. Two daughters were born to this union, Cheryl Kaye in 1980 and Carrie Lynn in 1984. His daughters grew up in Garden County, tagging along on adventures with their dad to Lake McConaughy, the goose pit, and anywhere else their 1978 Chevy Blazer would take them.

Dale had interests in hunting and fishing, farming and ranching, sports, and pets. He respected all facets of nature: the scenery, the wildlife, and the seasons. Hunting and fishing were his life-long passions, and he especially enjoyed when he could share those times in nature with others.

Dale admired the farming and ranching ways of life, playing a part in haying, harvesting, riding and breaking horses, and fixing fence. Sports were a daily part of Dale’s life, whether it was sledding down the schoolhouse hill as a kid, water skiing with his artificial leg, teaching physical education, participating in high school sports, coaching students, target shooting, or watching televised events. He understood the dynamics of sports and the enrichment that athletics could bring to people at all levels.

For pets, Dale always had a dog by his side and kitties around to entertain him and Carol. He passed the love of all his interests to his daughters and the many high school students he met as a guidance counselor and coach over the years.

Dale is survived by: his wife Carol of Oshkosh; daughters Cheryl Kyser Rolf (Jon Rolf) of Wood River and Carrie Kyser Weeks (Matt Weeks) of Lewiston, ID; granddaughter Chloe Weeks of Lewiston, ID; sisters Doris (Elwin) Lawrence of Hay Springs, Bea (Bill) Dinkel of North Platte, Dorothy Kenning of Wichita, KS, Evelyn (Jim) Hougland of Rockford, IL; brother Keith (Ellen) Kyser of Hay Springs; mother-in-law Alice Riege of Cherry County; sister-in-law Kristi Colburn of Valentine; many nieces, nephews, and extended family; numerous teachers, administrators, and coaches; great hunting and fishing buddies; and countless friends.

Family preceding Dale in death are: his parents; father-in-law Leonard Riege of Crookston; and brothers-in-law Keith Colburn of Valentine and Robert Kenning of Crawford.