Archie Dale Munson Dale Munson

Dale Munson left this world after 92 years & 2 months but he will not be easily forgotten. He has been described as everyone’s dad or grandpa. He always had a spring in his step and a smile on his face. The old saying “He never met a stranger” described Dale to a tee. His most cherished moments were doing things with family and friends. He always had a story that made us laugh whether it was about rolling a Model T after stealing watermelons from a neighbor’s garden when he was a teen or telling a fishing, hunting, or golf story. He loved to dance. He was a great volunteer and leader of several organizations throughout his life such as - Westwood Lions Club, Broomfield Chamber of Commerce, and Broomfield Senior Organization. He was a member of El Jebel Shrine club and a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge.

Dale was born, Archie Dale Munson, on October 13, 1919 on the family farm between Lodgepole and Chappell, Nebraska. He described his childhood days as Readin, Ritin, and Ridin. He rode his horse to school and did chores on the farm. He always thought he would take over the farm until asthma and hay fever changed that dream. He decided to head to Denver at the age of 22 to go to Barnes Business School where he studied bookkeeping. His first job as a bookkeeper was in a machine shop. He soon found that he didn’t like sitting behind a desk all day and asked to move out into the shop. He ran a lathe that made castings for torpedoes. It didn’t take long for the dust in the shop to cause his asthma to act up again. He would search for a new career.

In 1942 he went back to Chappell for his parents 25th Wedding Anniversary and asked Evelyn “Judy” Munson to marry him on August 15th. They were married for almost 55 years. Dale soon found his niche as a salesperson. He sold Real Estate, ran a bread route, and eventually began selling cars. He sold Hudsons then Chevrolets. He became a Chevrolet dealer with Loren McMahan and moved the dealership, McMahan-Munson Chevrolet from Lafayette to Broomfield in 1971. After he sold the dealership he sold used cars for Sill-TerHar Ford. After 40 years in the car business he retired in 1987, but continued to sell cars to anyone who called him.

Dale & Judy had one daughter, Joy. He always said she was the Joy of his life. She and her husband Bruce Klein gave him 2 grandchildren, Jessica and Shawn. Jessica then gave him his great-granddaughter, Kaylie. He enjoyed playing games with the children, taught them woodworking, went fishing, made Sunday morning pancakes and attended all their school programs and activities until they moved to Glenwood Springs in 1992. He got to Glenwood for as many functions as he could because Judy was ill and couldn’t make the trip. She preceded him in death in 1997. Dale lived on his own until a stroke caused balance issues. Two years ago he moved to The Retreat, an assisted living facility. He passed away there in his sleep on December 13, 2011.

Dale is survived by his daughter Joy, son-in-law, Bruce, Grandchildren, Jessica & Gryphon Garlitz, Shawn & Hannah Klein, great-granddaughter Kaylie, sisters Lois Christensen, Betty Christensen, and brother Lanny Munson.

In lieu of flowers a memorial may be sent to the American Heart Association.