Dahl-Swenson Family: Dale Curtis Dahl (Fulton's Great grandfather)

Dale Dale

I was born at the only hospital (then) in Watertown, SD on March 31, 1932. At that time, my mother and father farmed some 600 acres of land near South Shore, SD. An interesting side note: my mother was born in Tracy, MN, graduating from high school there with high grades. At that time, my grandfather Kopp advised her that the oldest daughter (which she was) would be required to stay at home

and take care of him and Grandmother Amelia. She rebelled against this announcement, and contacted my Uncle Lou in Watertown to see if she could live with them while she enrolled in and completed her certificate in business. Then, she went to work for the Watertown bank.

At that time women were not allowed to hold the title of cashier, but she impressed the President of the bank enough that he told her that if she moved to South Shore, SD, he would break presidence and name her as the branch cashier. She accepted. While working there, she was fasinated by the handsome youngest son of Peter Dahl. Peter who owned and operated a large farm near Esteline, SD and wanted Helmer to operate the one he had bought in South Shore earlier and eventually own it. They dated, and soon married. Their first son was Roland, five years older than me. My parents still lived on the farm when I was born in 1932. As another aside, my grandfather Peter Dahl came from Norway (his parents farmed there, but passed their farm in Norway to Peter's oldest brother, a common tradition). At first he came to Canada. While there he met my Grandmother Augusta. They both came to the U.S. (at first to Minnesota, near Morris). When Peter learned he could get land in South Dakota, he went there, raising three sons and two daughters while crop farming near Esteline.

I never got a good explanation why I was named Dale Curtis. Nor did Roland know why he had his first name (his middle name was Helmer)

I grew up in Watertown, SD (our family moved from South Shore when I was 3-4 years old), I went to Grant grade school...I went to kindergarden twice (they changed the age requirements), from there, I went to Junior High and the Senior High in Watertown. As I got older, I shoveled sidewalks, mowed ours and neighbors lawns, worked at the cemetary (weed whipping, mowing), worked as an usher and ticket-taker,,,and assistant manager at the local theatres.

My intent was to go to SD University (Vermillion,SD), majoring in business administration. In my second year, I enlisted in the U.S. Army (during the Korean War). Was trained in Kansas, Massachusetts (cryptanalyst), and then was shipped overseas (to Alaska),,,first to Anchorage and then to St Lawence Island...intercepting and decoding

Russian military messages.

When I returned from the service, I entered SD State College (Brookings) to take business courses, but ended up majoring in economics. My intent was to apply for Law School upon getting my BS in economics. But I met a mentor (Dr. Rex Cox, who was a professor in applied economics at the University of Minnesota. The rule at that time at the U of M was that profs had to retire at age 66. He was still interested in teaching and found out he could teach until age 70 at SDSU. He became my adviser and urged me to go to the U of MN. Knowing my interest in law, he suggested I go for a PhD with a minor in Law. I did. I got that degree and was asked to stay on the faculty both in economics and law. I retired after 39 years of teaching and research.

While at SDSU, I met a very special lady--Rosemary Thompson. We both had an interst in dramatic arts...she in "running the show" and me in acting. We dated and fell in love (BIG TIME). I took her to Watertown, She was an instant hit with my mother and dad, and with Roland and Betty (and Carol, John, & Jean). We decided to get married. Picked up our license in Brookings county and went to Aberdeen for the ceremony. In making arrangements I was told that the license was valid only in Brookings county.Angered beyond belief, we drove back to Brookings, but when we got into the county, we noticed a sign to White, SD. We went there. By chance, we found the pastor of the Methodist Church...he found a witness (who was at a high school basketball game). When the game was over, he and Pastor's wife witnessed our marriage at about 9:30 pm.

We checked into the motel at Esteline, SD. By the way, the SD legislature changed the law a few months later to allow any SD marriage license to be valid in all counties!

We originally wanted just two, but later expanded it to three more. We love them all. We wanted them to do well in school and plan for a future. They did. They excelled in their chosen work. We hoped your kids and our other grandkids will do well too. We hope for the best for our great grandkids too.

I want to be honest in dealings with all of our children, grandchildren, and great granchildren. Being truthful, honest and loving are the most important traits we want to transmit to our family.