Dale Donnley Elsen

The Final Patrol for Marshall County Sheriff, Dale Donnley Elsen, 64, of Britton, SD, will begin at 3:00pm, Friday, May 22, 2020, at the courthouse in Britton. It will proceed through Kidder, Veblen, Lake City, Eden and Langford before returning to Britton. Dale died Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at Marshall County Healthcare Center in Britton. Arrangements: Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street. Dale Donnley Elsen was born August 22, 1955, Donnley and Dorothy (Fuller) Elsen at Oakes, ND. He was the oldest of seven kids and grew up on the family farm where he learned the value of hard work. He graduated from Hecla High School in 1973. Dale was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother, and he was a devoted and hardworking law enforcement officer. At the age of 21, he joined the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office working as a deputy sheriff. On October 25, 1980, Dale was united in marriage to Rhonda Moeckly in Britton. He was elected sheriff in 1982 and took office in 1983. Dale was the longest current serving sheriff in South Dakota. Dale attended the Criminal Justice Training Center in Pierre and many trainings over the years. He loved helping people turn their lives around. Dale stood strong against racial injustice. In 1985 he was elected vice president of the District 1 Sheriffs Association and in 1986, he was elected as president. He was a member of the National Sheriffs Association, South Dakota Sheriffs Association, the South Dakota Peace Officers Association and the Marshall County Democrats. He served as chairman for St. Jude’s Bike-a-thon and the local Salvation Army. Dale initiated child fingerprinting and conducted annual bicycle safety programs for grade school students. He volunteered his time for the Britton baseball program, Y tourney coaching, BB gun range officer, Punt, Pass & Kick, and started a free flag football program for youth. He loved spending time on the sidelines and leading the football team to the field. Dale presented drug, alcohol and crime prevention programs to various organizations. Dale was an avid Chicago Bears fan. He enjoyed spending his free time helping on the farm. Most people work to live, Dale lived to work. Grateful for having shared Dale’s life are his wife: Rhonda Elsen, Britton; son: Karsten (Kelly) Elsen and their children: Kenna and Kezlee; father: Donnley Elsen, Hecla, SD; his siblings: Dawn (Allen) Skoglund, Greely, CO, Duane (Julie) Elsen, Britton, Dustan (Lela) Elsen, Clark, SD, Darren (Tami) Elsen, Aberdeen, Denise (Greg) Vande Kamp, Aberdeen, and Dannelle Elsen, Britton; mother-in-law: Julie Moeckly; brother-in-law: Tom (Jamie) Moeckly and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Dale in death are his mother: Dorothy Elsen; one niece: Stephanie Elsen and one nephew: Devin Elsen.