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Dale Leroy Kruse, 82 of Blair, NE passed away quietly in his sleep surrounded by his loving family on Friday, December 2, 2022 at his home in Blair.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Albion, NE with Rev. Carolann Hopcke officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Albion, NE. There will be a visitation at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair, NE Monday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., then at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE on Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE is in charge of arrangements.

Dale Leroy Kruse was born on January 26th, 1940, in Boone, Nebraska to Kermit and Letha (Peterson) Kruse. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Albion High School in 1957. On April 8th, 1961, he was married to the love of his life Lois Cecilia Whited at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Albion, Nebraska.

Dale was a man of many talents as he was more than happy to tell you. He worked as a farmer around the Albion area for the first 48 years of his life. He was an able carpenter, electrician, plumber and mechanic. He built the home that his family occupied in Albion. In the late 1980’s he decided to sell the family farm and change careers.

In March of 1988 he moved to Blair, Nebraska after purchasing a retail liquor store. Dale’s House of Bottles was born, and he spent the rest of his life working at the store. He enjoyed interacting with customers and visitors. If you didn’t know him when you walked in, you certainly did when you left. His booming laugh and stories entertained many a soul. His sense of humor was as large as his passion for conversation.

While in Blair, he also found time to add on to the home he and Lois bought, doubling the size. He also made multiple improvements to his business with his life acquired skills. A fan of old TV shows from the 60’s he liked to brag that he ran “Haney’s Handyman Service” from the tv show Green Acres. Just in case anyone wondered about his skills, his license plate “I’M GOOD” answered that question. Later in life Dale enjoyed woodworking and became quite skilled at it. He built items or carved signs for most, if not all of his children and grandchildren.

Dale and Lois enjoyed traveling around the country to visit family and taking trips to see many popular tourist sites. They took several cruises and enjoyed many bus tours of the United States. Their travels took them from Alaska to Cape Cod and even to the Panama Canal.

Dale is preceded in death by his parents Kermit Kruse and Letha Kruse. Sisters Marlene (Mitchell), Janet (Lawson) and brother Ronald Kruse.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Lois (Whited). Sons Donald of Blair, Kevin (Barb) of Olathe, Kansas, Tim (Ann) of Papillion and John (Stephannie) of Lincoln. Grandchildren Shelby Kruse, Christina Kruse, Annelise (Brandon) Mathews, Bailey Kruse, Cassidy Kruse, Nicholas Kruse, sister Carol (Brugger) and many nieces and nephews.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #246146362