Dale Everson

Dale Everson of Moscow passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. He was 93.

Dale was born Feb. 1, 1930, in Geneva Lake, Wis. His parents were Oscar Martinus Everson and Edith May Everson (Kingery). He grew up in Buhl, Idaho, and graduated from Buhl High School in 1948. He was a FFA star farmer for the state of Idaho. He attended the University of Idaho and graduated with a bachelor of science in Dairy Science in 1952.

He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952-1954. He met Darlene Marie Wamstad at the University of Idaho. They were married Aug. 15, 1954. He earned a master’s degree in dairy science in 1956. He graduated with a Ph.D., in animal breeding from Iowa State University in 1960. He worked in the Biometrical Services Agricultural Research Service, USDA in Beltsville, Md., from 1960-1962.

He moved back to Moscow in 1962. He was an associate professor at the University of Idaho from 1962-1966, and he became a full professor in 1966. He taught undergraduate and graduate statistics courses. He enjoyed working with his graduate students. He taught epidemiology in the WAMI medical school program for many years. He contributed to professional journals. He was the Director of the Division of Statistics from 1994-1996. He retired from the University of Idaho in 1996. He continued to work as a consultant on a part-time basis.

He was involved in numerous professional and scholarly organizations. He was a member of Sigma Xi, and served as chapter president in 1969. He served in Phi Kappa Phi as chapter president from 1974-1975, and as secretary from 1988-1984. He was a chapter adviser to Alpha Zeta from 1966-1969, and from 1978-1981. He was chapter president of Phi Delta Kappa from 1976-1978. He was chapter president of Gamma Sigma Delta from 1982-1983.

He was the president of the Moscow Lions Club from 1967-1968, and he was the Outstanding Lion of the Year in 1966. He was an active member of the Lions Club for over 60 years. He worked countless hours volunteering on many different projects/activities throughout the years. He received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for dedicated humanitarian services from the Lions Club International Foundation in 2018.

He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church. He served on the Session, and as chair of the church facilities committee. He loved to sing, and he sung tenor as a member of the Chancel Choir. He went to Pearlington, Miss., to serve with the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance team from the First Presbyterian Church to help with the rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

He was a member of the board of directors at the Campus Christian Center for over 20 years. He was inspired to serve since he saw the Center as “a safe haven for college students, and a good alternative to the bars.”

He served on the Moscow School Board as a trustee from 1981-1987. He was vice-chairman in 1983, and chairman in 1984.

He was an avid Idaho Vandals fan. He attended many football and basketball games over the years.

He enjoyed golfing with his friends.

He bought a lot on Coeur d’Alene Lake in 1969, and had a lake cabin built there in 1970. He did some of the finishing work himself. He enjoyed fishing, boating and waterskiing. He liked to barbecue. He loved sitting out on the deck watching the birds and boats.

He loved to garden. He grew a variety of fruits and vegetables including apples, carrots, corn, tomatoes, green beans, raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and zucchini.

He loved to travel. He joined the Roadrunners travel club with his wife when he retired. He drove the bus on many trips around the country. Later in his life, he especially enjoyed going to see his farms in southern Idaho, and going to the Oregon Coast.

He was an avid reader. He had some vision loss due to macular degeneration later in life, but he enjoyed listening to audiobooks.

He was a loving father, grandfather and husband. He had a positive attitude and he encouraged others. He had a sense of humor, and he liked to laugh. His faith was important to him. He was generous with his time and with his resources. He touched many people’s lives, and he will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Darlene. He is survived by two daughters, Vicki Stevens, and Sharon Everson; two grandsons, Matthew Keller (Tatiana), and Christopher Keller; one great-granddaughter, Jayden Keller, and two great-grandsons, Greyson Keller and Elias Keller.

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at the First Presbyterian Church, 405 S. Van Buren St., Moscow, with a reception at the church immediately afterwards. His burial at the Moscow Cemetery will follow.

Short’s Funeral Chapel of Moscow is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left at shortsfuneralchapel.com.