Larry Dahle

Larry Dahle, 85, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN. Rev. Cheryl Rondeau-Bassett will officiate. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the church and will close with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday. We will depart from the church at 1:00 p.m. for inurnment at Augusta Cemetery near Marietta, MN. 

Larry Deen Dahle was born on February 26, 1939, to Lawrence and Marie (Limberg) Dahle at their home in Marietta, MN, with the assistance of Dr. Hedemark and Larry’s grandmother, Jenny Limberg. He was baptized and confirmed at Augusta Lutheran Church in Marietta and graduated from Marietta High School in 1957.

During high school, Larry worked alongside his father at Dahle Construction Company. On July 9, 1957, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, beginning basic training in San Antonio, TX. He was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, and later at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico. Larry learned how to be a refrigeration mechanic in the Air Force, a skill he turned into a lifelong career.

Larry married Jyla Dean Sandau on December 29, 1959, at First English Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN. He came home over Christmas and proposed to Jyla, planning to get married after she finished high school. However, due to an ice storm, Larry had to extend his leave and knew he would not be able to return later for the wedding. The couple married with their parents by their side and kept it a secret so Jyla could complete high school, graduating in June 1960. After her graduation, Jyla joined Larry in Puerto Rico. They lived there until Larry was honorably discharged from the Air Force on January 25, 1961. The couple returned to Marietta, briefly living with his parents before moving to Ortonville, where he would call home for the rest of his life. Together, they were blessed with four children: Darcy, Lynne, Scott, and June; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren.

Larry was always a businessman. His first business, started on his own right after the Air Force, was Larry’s Refrigeration. He then partnered with Terry Thompson and opened Larry’s TV & Radio. After Terry’s sudden passing, Larry returned to refrigeration services, working out of his home garage. He later partnered with Dennis Dragt to form D & D Heating, a partnership that lasted five years. Larry once again returned to running his own business, now called Larry’s Refrigeration & Heating. In 1984, a retail store was opened in Madison, MN, adding appliances to the business. His son Scott, daughter Lynne, and son-in-law Randy joined the business. A few years later, a second location was opened in Ortonville. In 1993, Randy and Lynne left the business for Randy to pursue a career as a pastor. In 2001, his son Scott purchased the business, and Larry’s Refrigeration & Heating is still going strong today. Larry never fully retired up until the last few weeks, he could be found at the Madison store working one day a week, which mostly consisted of watching movies and having coffee with friends.

Larry and Jyla became members of First English Lutheran Church in 1961, where Larry faithfully served as an usher until 2024. In his free time, Larry enjoyed designing and building things from scratch, such as a pontoon, garden tractor, and camper. In his later years, he became a skilled woodworker, crafting many beautiful pieces of furniture for his family.

Larry & Jyla made sure to make time for family vacations, with many road trips across the country in the station wagon with the kids and often the two Grandmas. They also visited some special places like Alaska, Hawaii & Dominican Republic. Larry’s favorite vacation spot was the family cabin in Ontario, Canada. He discovered his love for this area on fishing trips with family & friends. Then on a fishing trip in May 1967, he along with his dad, uncle Melvin, and family friend, Ernie Kanten purchased an Island together, calling it KanDahl Island. Larry loved to share it with many family, friends & the church youth group. It has become a very special place for many. In their later years, Larry & Jyla would spend a month at a time at the Island.

Larry had a very tender heart, greeting everyone with a smile and a story. His stories changed from time to time, always full of details, which he was known to embellish a little to make them even better. He could strike up a conversation with anyone and always tried to find a connection with them. Larry had a deep love for his family, and each one “even the four-legged members” had been given special nicknames.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 65 years, Jyla Dahle of Ortonville, MN; children: Darcy (Jim) Van Hout of Rapid City, SD; Lynne (Randy) Johnson of Tekonsha, MI; Scott Dahle of Ortonville, MN; and June (Jason) Harms of Ortonville, MN; grandchildren: Tabatha (Matt) Goodwin of Rapid City, SD; Ryan (Melanie) Johnson of Cedar Lake, IN; Kyle Van Hout of Rapid City, SD; Ashley (Roscoe Wilson) Van Hout of Rural Hall, NC; Kelly (Herbert) Hoover of Richmond, IL; Kristin (Jon) Stark of O’Fallon, MO; and Rebel (Black Lab) of Ortonville, MN; great-grandchildren: Tameeka, Nathaniel, Riley, Rowan, Ryder, Hailly, Madison, Syler, Herbert, Phoebe, Benjamin, and Elizabeth; siblings: Janet (Paul) Larson, Lyle (Beverlee) Dahle, and David (Sharon) Dahle; sister-in-law Jhonda (Lyle) Danielson; uncles Gerald Dahle and Art Dahle; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Marie (Limberg) Dahle; parents-in-law, John and Irma (Hillman) Sandau; brother-in-law Jim Ruppert; great-grandson Alex Hughes; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and beloved pets.