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Darrell (Dib) Wallace Dibben was born March 30, 1930, to Esther and Wallace Dibben in Flandreau, South Dakota. He died April 12, 2020, from complications of the COVID-19 virus. Darrell graduated from the University of South Dakota and earned his graduate degree from the University of Iowa. He was a proud veteran of the Korean War. He was stationed in Korea and Hawaii where he worked as a communication specialist.

Darrell taught high school in Emmetsburg, Iowa, for 6 years. He married Marjorie Tesdahl Meyerholz November 19, 1960. In 1965, he began his 30-year tenure at Dana College where he taught communications, language arts, and education classes. He was instrumental in starting the Dana College radio station KDCVFM and remained the manager and advisor until his retirement in 1995. He loved teaching, but his great passion was mentoring students. One of his proudest moments was being voted "Professor of the Year" by the student body in 1988. He continued his passion for mentoring by being a part of the TeamMates program for many years after his retirement.

Darrell was an active member of First Lutheran Church for 54 years where he served on many committees including Church Council President and the Stephan Ministry Program.

He is survived by four children: Sherri Meyerholz Andersen, Shelli Meyerholz Mosser (Tim), David Dibben (Jann), and Daniel Dibben (Merri). He is survived by 9 grandchildren: Scott Andersen, Brian Andersen (Lynn), Lori Andersen Connelly (Brian), Lindsey Northwall Lind (Matt), Andrew Northwall (Staci), Kelsie Dibben, Derek Dibben, Ryan Dibben, and Molly Dibben. He is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marge; sisters, Rosemary Aus and Adele Olssen; and one grandchild, Amy Northwall.

Memorials are suggested in Darrell's name to First Lutheran Church or Open Door Mission. Online condolences may be left at www.campbellaman.com. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

#2-Published in the Pilot-Tribune April 14, 2020

Blair resident is the first reported death from COVID-19 in Washington County.

Darrell Dibben, 90, died Sunday from complications of the virus, according to his obituary.

Three Rivers Public Health Department Executive Director Terra Uhing confirmed the death of a man in his 90s with underlying health conditions as the first in the county in a press release Monday evening. He was previously reported as a confirmed case.

Dibben was a resident of Carter Place, the Blair assisted living facility that is linked to 19 cases of COVID-19. Residents were moved from the facility to neighboring hospitals March 28 and 29 due to the outbreak.

Blair police are investigating the outbreak and the events that transpired at the facility.

Dibben, a retired Dana College professor, began his 30-year tenure at the Blair institution in 1965. He taught communications, language arts and education classes.

He was also instrumental in starting the Dana College radio station KDCVFM and remained the manager and adviser until his retirement in 1995.

“He loved teaching, but his great passion was mentoring students,” his obituary said. “One of his proudest moments was being voted 'Professor of the Year' by the student body in 1988.” Dibben continued his passion for mentoring serving as a mentor with the Blair Community Schools TeamMates program for many years after his retirement.

#3-Published in the Omaha World Herald April 14, 2020

Former Dana College prof who died of COVID-19 is remembered for connecting with students, compassion

By Kevin Cole World-Herald staff writer

Darrell Dibben’s thoughts were for his family even as he was being wheeled to an ambulance from a Blair assisted living center to keep battling COVID-19 at an Omaha hospital.

“We couldn’t be with him because he (tested positive for) COVID-19, but I was outside in a mask, back away from him,” eldest son Dave Dibben of Blair said Tuesday. “I said, ‘Dad, how you doing?’ Right away, he found me in the crowd and said, ‘I’m fine, Dave, how are you? Are you all right?’

“That was Dad,” Dave Dibben said, his voice cracking. “He cared so much more about others. That’s what made him an outstanding parent and an outstanding teacher.”

Darrell Dibben, a longtime professor at Dana College in Blair, died Sunday from complications of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, at Immanuel Medical Center.

Dibben left the Carter Place assisted living center in Blair on March 29. To prevent the further spread of the virus after an outbreak there, Carter Place went into lockdown in mid-March. The facility later temporarily closed after 13 residents and six staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

Dibben celebrated his 90th birthday on March 30, alone, at Immanuel. His family was able to talk with him via the FaceTime app and sent his favorite dessert, carrot cake, from Butch’s Deli in Blair.

In 1965, Dibben began a 30-year stint at Dana College, where he taught communications, language arts and education classes. He was instrumental in starting the school radio station, KDCV-FM, and remained its adviser until his retirement in 1995.

Dana closed in 2010.

Growing up in Flandreau, South Dakota, Dibben worked on his father’s dairy farm, although the family lived in town. He graduated from the University of South Dakota and earned a graduate degree from the University of Iowa.

Dibben served in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Korean War as a communications specialist. After the war, he taught high school in Emmetsburg, Iowa, for six years.

In 1960, he married Marjorie Tesdahl Meyerholz, who died in 2002. The couple raised four children, all of whom graduated from Dana College.

#4-Published in the Omaha World Herald April 15, 2020

Dibben, Darrell Wallace "Dib" March 30, 1930 - April 12, 2020 Survived by four children: Sherri Meyerholz Andersen, Shelli Meyerholz Mosser (Tim), David Dibben (Jann), and Daniel Dibben (Merri); along with 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Campbell Aman Funeral Home 444 South 17th, Blair, NE www.campbellaman.com | (402) 426-2191

#5- Darrell Dibben made a lasting impact on numerous students during a 30-year career at Dana College, according to his family, friends and colleagues.

The longtime professor, affectionately known as “Dib,” died April 12 from complications of COVID-19. He had been a resident of Carter Place, an assisted living facility in Blair linked to 19 cases of the illness.

Dibben turned 90 on March 30, a day after he was moved to CHI Health Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha.

Not being able to see his father in the last days of his life was difficult, youngest son, Dan Dibben said.

“We could not visit him in the hospital,” Dan said. “We'd just call him each day.”

The family was able to talk with him via the FaceTime app and he was able to communicate with them.

“I said my goodbyes,” Dan said.

In 1965, Dibben started his tenure at Dana College, where he taught communications, language arts and education classes. He was also instrumental in starting the college radio station, KDCV-FM, in 1972. He remained the adviser until his retirement in 1995.

“It was just a perfect fit for him,” Dan said.

The radio station was one of Dibben's interests, having earned a broadcasting degree as an undergraduate at the University of South Dakota. He saw it as an opportunity to give students another avenue to learn.

“It was all about the kids with him, the students. They were No. 1,” Dan said.

Former students have credited Dibben for their success and touted him as their favorite college professor. One of his proudest moments, according to his family, was being voted “Professor of the Year” by the student body in 1988.

“Great teachers are like great leaders. They inspire confidence and motivate others to do their very best,” former student Bruce Bro said. “In fact, I believe behind every great leader, you’ll find a great teacher like Darrell Dibben who made them who they are. I can think of several of Dibben’s students who have become great leaders. And I have many friends who went to Dana who credit him for their success in life. I certainly do, and I will never forget him.”

Dibben wasn't the typical college professor, his former students said.

“As a professor, Dib was the epitome of discovery learning,” Bob Coffey said. “We learned by doing, working at the KDCV radio station, recording interviews, spinning records, producing public service announcements, going live at sporting events, and producing shows. Lectures were rare, and even on those occasions where he started one, it quickly morphed into discussion and real-life examples.”

Through his teachings, Dibben instilled confidence in his students.

“His instructional skill, humor, patience and encouragement guided me from a nervous freshman to a confident senior,” former student Steve Albertsen, who has worked in radio for 40 years, said. “He always had time to talk with you about your interests and goals. Almost every day as you passed by his office, someone would be sitting in the corner chair of his office, telling stories and letting that booming laugh echo through the halls.”

Mike Henriksen, who spent only three semesters at Dana, also credits Dibben for his success in radio. Henriksen co-hosts a daily sports radio show that airs on 14 stations in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa and he hosts a weekly radio show that airs on 20 stations in South Dakota.

“The guidance I got from Dib was invaluable,” he said. “But more importantly, he took something that I had always wanted to do, and showed me that it was something I could do. He gave me the tools, he gave me the opportunity and he gave me the confidence.”

Dan, who took one interim class with his father at Dana, said Dibben was high energy, animated and “very funny.”

“Talk about a wonderful classroom setting,” he said.

Denise Work, another former student, recalled a lesson she learned from Dibben.

“As a professor, he taught that communication was so much more than the words that came out of someone's mouth and that if you only listened to those words, you missed most of the message,” she said. “I think of that often when working with others.”

Dibben even had an impact on students who didn't take his classes.

John Mark Nielsen, who later became an English professor at Dana, met his wife, Dawn, on campus after Dibben encouraged her to attend the college.

He later worked side by side with Dibben on the general education program when the two were colleagues.

“Dib was always an advocate for the importance of communication, be it journalism or spoken communication or written communication,” Nielsen said.

Following his retirement, Dibben continued to have an impact on young people as a mentor with the TeamMates program in Blair. Mentoring both his students and his mentees was his passion, Dan said.

“It was his way to give back,” Dan said.

A celebration of life is planned a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Open Door Mission or First Lutheran Church in Blair, where Dibben was a member for 54 years.

Dibben is survived by daughters Sherri Anderson and Shelli Mosser, both of Omaha; sons, Dave Dibben and Dan Dibben, both of Blair; nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marge; sisters, Rosemary Aus and Adele Olssen; and one grandchild, Amy Northwall.

Former students fondly remember Darrell Dibben “As the radio station manager, he allowed me and all the other staff members to jump in and develop our on-air skills very early. He wasn’t afraid to get me involved in every aspect of the station, whether it be a DJ, sports broadcaster, news reporter or music director. He was instrumental in connecting me with an alumnus that hosted me for a month in Phoenix with a radio independent study. The faith he showed in me was unwavering and I’m forever grateful. Mr. Dibben instilled in me a passion for a profession that I am proud to say I’m now in my 40th year of practice!” — Steve Albertsen

“In broadcasting, he believed experience was the best teacher, and he would turn us loose in the radio station with little restriction. Looking back, that must have been horrifying to him. But his broadcast students learned quickly by their mistakes, and some great and “legendary” productions came out of the KDCV studios. Some were actually quite good! I remember him describing them when I was a student, with his laugh that nearly brought him to tears.” — Bruce Bro

“When I was a freshman, I got involved with the radio station there (KDCV-FM) quite by accident. My freshman college roommate became a DJ, and since I loved music I would tag along and help him with his show occasionally. Eventually, I decided to join the staff as well. I DJ'd for a couple years and then became the program director my last two years at Dana. Dib was the faculty advisor for the radio station during my time there. He was a peach of a man — always good-natured. He didn't run the station in a dictatorial manner. He allowed the students to do their thing, make mistakes, and find achievement in their own ways. He always had a smile on his face.” — Dave Moore

“During my time (at Dana), I was given every opportunity to be fully involved in KDCV-FM, the college radio station. I did board shifts, but I also had a passion for sports. I began doing play by play, along with a few others, almost my first week on campus. 'Dib' would review the tapes with me, point out what I did well and then suggest some other things I could maybe work on. But he always did so in such a positive manner. He encouraged me to read certain books or to listen to certain folks who were getting paid to do what I was just trying to learn. I had already been doing a lot of that, but he pointed me in directions I never would have gone. I did football, basketball, baseball, and maybe even a softball game or two. And Dib was always listening, and always giving tips.” — Mike Henriksen

“People joke about 'the Dana Difference'. It was and still is a real thing. It is what made Dana such a great place. Professor Dibben lived the Dana difference. It was profs like him that made the place so special.” — Denise Work

“The thing I remember the most is this tiny office Mr. Dibben had just outside the radio station. I spent hours in that office, talking not only about radio and classwork, but about life. He was always so positive and took a genuine interest in the lives of his students.” — Jeff DeYoung

#6 Printed in the December 27, 2020 Omaha World-Herald as part of a feature "The Lives of 40 Nebraskans" (who died of Covid) by Jessica Wade, Nancy Gaarder, Jeffrey Robb, World-Herald Staff Writers)

Age 90/Longtime Dana College professor

Darrell Dibben’s thoughts were for his family even as he was being wheeled to an ambulance from a Blair assisted living center to keep battling COVID-19 at an Omaha hospital.

“We couldn’t be with him because he (tested positive for) COVID-19, but I was outside in a mask, back away from him,” eldest son Dave Dibben of Blair said. “I said, ‘Dad, how you doing?’ Right away, he found me in the crowd and said, ‘I’m fine, Dave, how are you? Are you all right?’

“That was Dad,” Dave Dibben said. “He cared so much more about others. That’s what made him an outstanding parent and an outstanding teacher.”

Darrell Dibben, a longtime professor at Dana College in Blair, died April 12 from complications of COVID-19 at Immanuel Medical Center.

In 1965, Dibben began a 30-year stint at Dana College, where he taught communications, language arts and education classes. He was instrumental in starting the school radio station, KDCV-FM, and remained its adviser until his retirement in 1995.

Dibben served in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Korean War as a communications specialist.

In 1960, he married Marjorie Tesdahl Meyerholz, who died in 2002. The couple raised four children, all of whom graduated from Dana College.

Dibben is survived by his children, Sherri Andersen, Shelli Mosser, David Dibben and Daniel Dibben; along with nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

#6 Funeral Leaflet

(photo)

Darrel W. Dibben

March 30, 1930 ~ April 12, 2020

Graveside Service with Military Honors Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 1:00 pm North End of the Blair Cemetery. All are Welcome. Memorial Gathering Blair’s First Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall 2:00-4:00 pm

No Memorials Please

#7-Published in the Pilot-Tribune Sept. 14,2021

Darrell Dibben was born March 30, 1930, and died April 12, 2020.

Graveside service with military honors will take place Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, at 1 p.m., on the north end of the Blair Cemetery.

All are welcome.

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #209037107