Dale George Saari, age 82 of Palo, died September 19, 2025, in Aurora at the Northern Pines Nursing Home under hospice care, surrounded by his family. Dale was born February 4, 1943, in San Francisco, CA and moved to Northern Minnesota where he was a longtime resident. He graduated from Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School in 1961, attended Dunwoody Institute and enlisted in the Army in 1964 – 1966 during the Vietnam War.  Dale met Jeannine King in the spring of 1963 and married July 16, 1966.  They built their original home on Loon Lake in 1972 and then built their retirement home in 2001-2004.  Dale worked for the Town of White as a Foreman and Heavy equipment operator and previously for Dupont/MNEX. He was a member of the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo, MN where both Jeannine and Dale were very involved in building of the new church. Dale was involved and retired from the Palo Volunteer Fire Department. He was a kind saint who was always there to help anyone, from family, to neighbors to friends. He had a love for fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and enjoyed all the family gatherings at Loon Lake and Whiteface.  Dale cherished time spent with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a ‘Jack of All Trades’, he would fix anything even if it wasn’t the right way. His bright smile and mischievous teasing actions will be missed deeply.

Dale is survived by his wife of 59 years: Jeannine of Palo;  children: Christopher D. Saari of Forest Lake, MN, Jason D. (Cyndie) Saari of Palo, MN and  Jennifer (Tony)  Kammeyer of St. Croix Falls, WI; grandchildren: Nathan (Brooke) Saari of Cloquet, MN, Kirsten (Thomas) Hedin of Isanti, MN, Emma and Dashel Martin of St. Croix Falls, WI; step-grandchildren and great grandchildren; his faithful service companion dog Ella; extended family and friends.

He we preceded in death by his father George Saari (1988), mother Viola Saari (2014), many aunts and uncles and cousins, including most recent cousins: Ron Maki (2015) and his ‘Kissing Cousin’ Betty (Saari) Lamppa (2022).

The Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025 at the Loon Lake Community Center in Palo. A Gathering time of Family and Friends will begin one hour prior to the Service.  Military Honors accorded by the Quayle-Shuster-Truman-Muhich American Legion Post 241 in Aurora. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Minnesota Veteran’s Cemetery in Saginaw.

Memorials are preferred and may be directed to Parkinson’s Foundation, the Kolstad DAV Chapter # 23 in Virginia, or the Essentia East Range Hospice Team.

Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, AA Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share condolences online, please visit: www.baumanfuneralhome.com .