Dale G. Gregson, 93, a long time resident of Spearfish, SD, passed away Tuesday, February 16 at the Dorsett Regional Senior Care in Spearfish.

Funeral services for Dale G. Gregson will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Friday at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Spearfish, with the Rev. Harold Delbridge and the Rev. Peg Grzelkowski officiating. Interment will follow at 12:30 at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Visitation is from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday with a gathering of friends and family from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel, Sturgis, SD.

Dale was born March 16, 1916, near Quinn, SD to Frank Gregson and Della Flatt Gregson. The family later moved to Hill City, SD where Dale attended high school, graduating in 1935.

On July 7, 1936, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was transferred to the U. S. Naval Training Center Station, Great Lakes, IL. While stationed at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he received the Aviation Machinists Mate third class rating and was transferred to the Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger Scouting Squadron Forty-two. There he was assigned to a 5B2U2 Scout Bomber, which he maintained and also accompanied the pilot as a mechanic/gunner on all flights until his honorable discharge on July 16, 1940.

Dale married Myrtle E. Anderson of Wall, SD on December 24, 1940. He began his civil aviation career in 1942 as a mechanic for United Airlines at Cheyenne, WY. In 1945 he returned to the Black Hills area where he worked as an aviation mechanic and pilot for nearly forty years. He was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration, Rocky Mountain Region, Aviation Mechanic Citation for his "Significant contribution to the safety and increased reliability in Aviation Maintenance." In 1998 Dale was inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.

He was an avid fly fisherman and enjoyed fishing the waters of Spearfish Canyon. After retiring in 1979 he began golfing, enjoying the game until the age of ninety. His favorite outdoor activity was hunting whitetail deer with his family and friends in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Dale is survived by his brother Gary Gregson of Spearfish, a daughter Karen (Les) Turgeon of Beulah, WY, a son Roger (Shirley) Gregson of Gillette, WY, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Della Gregson, his wife Myrtle Gregson, second wife Marjorie Shoun Gregson, three brothers and two sisters.

Memorials have been established in his name to benefit the Hospice of the Northern Black Hills and the Spearfish Meals on Wheels program.