Dale E. Varberg - Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel

September 9, 1930 - April 18, 2019


Dale Elthon Varberg

Age 88, most recently of Minneapolis, died on April 18 surrounded by his beloved family. Dale was born and raised in Fertile, Iowa to a farming family. Though lifelong allergies made farm life a challenge he was proud of his roots and always spoke with great affection for his early years growing up in rural Iowa with his two brothers. He briefly considered a career as a farmer, but academics called louder. Dale left Fertile for Iowa State to gain his undergraduate degree and later graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1959. Dale loved his years as a teacher and spent his entire career at Hamline University. He cared deeply about his students, his fellow faculty members and his decades-long role as faculty advisor to the Hamline chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Dale also knew great success as an author of over 30 higher education math textbooks. Most importantly, he knew he was forgiven and had the sure knowledge of eternity in heaven and was an active, lifelong member of Ebenezer Lutheran Brethren Church. Dale was blessed to know the love of two special women. He married Idella Vall in 1955 and they had three children and 43 years together before her death in 1998. In 1999, he married Louise Midthun and after nearly 20 years together she survives him. Dale is also survived by his children, Joel (Sue), Karen (Jim) Olson and Tom (Michelle); grandchildren, Jarod (Kirsten), Ben, Aaron (Kristen), Caleb (Allie), Lauren, Jordan (Annie), Nicholas and Nathan; great-grandchildren, Rheanna, Halle, Aidan, Macgregor, Asher, Sullivan and Everett.
Blessed be his memory.

Memorials preferred to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.




2 Comments

  1. Jeanne Marie Zongo Sedegho says:

    Just surfed Dale’s name and saw this information. Very sad to learn that he passed away. I had the privilege to have Dale and Phrel as host family within the HH program in 1996/ 1997. Both were great friends, kind and lovely. I just read his letter tonight, this is what I surfed his name. My condolences to his children and their families and Louise. May he rest in peace. Sincerely. Jeanne from Burkina Faso

  2. Time has passed. Dr Varberg was a profound help to me at Hamline University. Not in Mathematics but as he and Dr. Hagen helped a friend and me start a Bible study in 1969-1970 that later lead to a revival of the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at HU. Our class of 1970 elected him our teacher if the year!

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