Dale Jacob Sanford was born on January 22, 1931 in Stafford, Kansas to Clifford Paul and Grace Sylvania (Dykstra) Sanford.  This is where the family made their home and the kids attended school.  Dale graduated from Stafford High School and went on to attend college at Kansas State University, attaining his Bachelor of Science in Vo-Ag.  While at K-State, Dale met the love of his life, Doris Louise Linville.

Dale and Louise were married in Colby, Kansas in 1953.  After graduating, the couple moved to El Dorado where Dale taught Vo-Ag at the high school.  From there, the couple lived in numerous places throughout Kansas.  During this time the family grew as the couple were blessed with five children: Arlan, Aleta, Anson, Alex, and April.  In 1970, they landed in Anthony and made that their permanent home.  Louise passed away on July 15, 1999.  Dale later remarried, Areewan Tongdaeng and adopted her daughter, Eve.

Above all, Dale was an entrepreneur, being self-employed most of his life.  To name a few, his endeavors were farmer, teacher, inventor, salesman, carpenter, author, stonemason, minister, missionary, and prison minister.  The rare moments he wasn't working, Dale loved to garden, travel, and going to the casino.  And he always made sure to watch over and teach his family and others close to him.  Family was very important to Dale.

After a full 90 years of life, Dale passed away on August 27, 2021 at his dwelling in Harper.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Grace; wife, Louise; grandchildren, David Arlan Sanford and Zion James Hunter; and siblings: Betty Marie Long, Berverly Jean Bratton, Donald Sanford, and Lorna Mead.  He is survived by his children: Arlan Sanford and wife, Angel of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Aleta Nolan of Alva, Oklahoma, Anson Sanford and wife, Myrtle of Hutchinson, Kansas, Alex Sanford of Laos, April Smith and husband, Fred of Harper, and Eve Williams and husband, Clay of Wisconsin; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; other relatives and friends.

Friends may view and register from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at the funeral home.

The family will have a private burial at a later time at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dale Sanford Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E Main St ~ Anthony, Kansas  67003