Dale Stanford Telle

Dale Stanford Telle, 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at LifeCare Roseau Manor surrounded by his family. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Dale at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Warroad, Minnesota on Saturday, March 19th at 11:00am with a visitation an hour prior. A Visitation will be held on Friday, March 18th at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Warroad from 5:00-7:00pm with a prayer service starting at 7:00pm followed by a rosary. Interment will be held at Resurrection Cemetery in East Grand Forks, MN later this spring.

Dale was born to Peter and Marie (Holmen) Telle on February 17, 1932, at Deaconess Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. Dale graduated from Grand Forks Central High School where he was a standout athlete. He proudly enrolled at the University of North Dakota and was a four-year starter for the Fighting Sioux football team. Dale graduated from UND in 1956 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. A month later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. There, he completed basic training, taught classes in typing and military law, and led the troops in their Daily Dozen calisthenics. He also played on the 4th Army’s football and volleyball teams and helped welcome a fellow inductee named Elvis Presley.

Dale returned to Grand Forks and accepted a teaching position at West School while working part time at the Home of Economy department store. There he met a bookkeeper named Theresa, and in Dale’s own words, “Love was born.” Dale married Theresa Ann Vanyo on August 11, 1959, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Tabor, MN, and made their home in Grand Forks. The family moved to Warroad in 1967 when Dale accepted a position as an elementary teacher and assistant hockey coach. He was honored for his 31 years of service when he retired from teaching in 1994. Dale continued as a substitute teacher until the age of 80.

During those decades, Dale spent his summers as a fishing guide on Lake of the Woods. The Buffalo Bay hot spot known as Telle’s Flats is named in Dale’s honor. In the mid-1970s, he and Theresa created Telle’s Launch Service, a successful charter fishing business. Dale also launched his own line of fishing lures, making Telle’s Spinners a popular item in tackle boxes everywhere. An avid outdoorsman, Dale enjoyed hunting, fishing, spearing, and trapping. He was especially committed to teaching his children and grandchildren about the great outdoors and the amazing gifts it had to offer.

In retirement, Dale enjoyed shaking dice with the Warroad Legends coffee klatch. He was an active member of the local Knights of Columbus and a faithful member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. There he attended daily Mass, hand in hand with the bride he would cherish for 63 years.

In October 2021 following a series of physical setbacks, Dale became a resident at LifeCare Roseau Manor where he thoroughly enjoyed the company of residents and staff right up to his final days. (The Telle family extends its sincerest gratitude to the LifeCare staff for the compassionate care shown to the entire family during Dale’s stay.)

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Patrick A. Telle, and infant grandson Andrew Scott Telle.

Dale is survived by his loving wife Theresa; six children: Debra (Garry) Hadden, Gayle (Dale) Gulbranson, Dale Scott (Linda) Telle, Heidi (Matt) Cole, Roxanne (Richard) St. Pierre, and Jennifer (Robert) Rose; nineteen grandchildren: Amy (Cullen) Deck, Jeffrey Bothun, Jeena (Jason) Kaiser, Brad Gulbranson, Greg Gulbranson, Katie Gulbranson, Isaac Telle, Stephanie (Ty) Heinecke, Jason Cole, Nathan Cole, Jeremy Cole, Brandon (Brittany) St. Pierre, Tanner (Abbe) St. Pierre, Ryne Telle, Annabelle St. Pierre, Ethan St. Pierre, Anthony Rose, Daniel Rose, and Zachary Rose; and seven great-grandchildren: Amelia Deck, Henry Deck, Koby Kaiser, Norah Kaiser, Lola Kaiser, Oliver Gulbranson, and Frankie St. Pierre.

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