E. Gary Dalin Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Gary Dalin, 89, of Granite Falls, died Thursday, April 25, 2019, at the Clarkfield Care Center. Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 24th at 11:00 am at the Granite Falls Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Memorials preferred to the Hillcrest Cemetery Fund Ernest Gary Dalin was born March 20, 1930 in Hankinson, North Dakota, the son of Ernest and Lilian (Klar) Dalin. His father passed away in January of 1930, two months before his birth. Gary was baptized and confirmed at Walla Lutheran Church in New Effington, South Dakota. He attended country schools and then St. Francis Academy in Hankinson, Mankato his freshman year, then returning and graduating from New Effington High School in 1947. He continued his education at South Dakota State in Brookings, South Dakota earning a degree in Pharmacy in 1951. On December 16, 1951, he was united in marriage to Verona Ulstad. Their first year of marriage was spent in Milbank, South Dakota, working for Blesser Drug. In November of 1952, he was drafted into the military and was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Following basic training, he worked at the Army hospital pharmacy for the duration of his service. Verona joined him off base where they made their home in Manhattan, Kansas. To this union, two daughters, Patrice and Jody were born. After his service, he and his family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he worked in a pharmacy. Then moving to Mankato, he worked four years for Thro Drug. In 1959, they purchased Detterling Drug in Granite Falls, which became Dalin Rexall Drug. They owned and operated the pharmacy until retirement in 1991. Gary loved to sing. He performed solos as a young man and sang many years in his church choir. Together Gary and Verona were golfing partners, bridge players, enjoyed learning downhill skiing, and enjoyed vacations and winters in Arizona. In the 1960’s, he obtained his pilot's license and purchased a 1957 Cessna that took them to Texas, Arizona and countless trips to the farms in South Dakota. He was a member of the Granite Falls Post 69 American Legion and served as Commander for a term. Gary is survived by Verona, his wife of 67 years; daughters: Patrice Dalin Monson of Granite Falls and Jody (Vincent) Facchiano of Belvidere, Illinois; grandchildren; Jamie (Tim) Sheely of Maple Grove,Minnesota, Vincent (Katie) Facchiano of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paul (Kristina) Facchiano of Hartland, Wisconsin; great grandchildren: Poppy Monson-Morrison, Charley Sheely, Scarlett Sheely, Piper Sheely and Mateo Facchiano; brother-in-law Orvin Ulstad and sister-in-law Ruth Ann Ulstad both of Anoka; nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest Dalin, Lilian Peterson and his step father William “Bill” Peterson, granddaughter Kara Ann and sister-in-law Diane Stauffacher and her son Shane Lekness and beloved aunts and uncles and cousins. Their reunion we celebrate with great joy and much harmonizing.