Tribute

Dale Edward Friesen was born on April 10, 1955 in Vancouver, BC to Peter and Ann Friesen.  He was the second oldest in what turned out to be a family of six boys; something the brothers bragged about was that they formed one complete line in hockey. The family first lived in Vancouver, then moved to Abbotsford for a few years before settling in Surrey, BC. Six guys, all being somewhat close in age, created a house full of activity, competition, noise and physical scrapping.
Whether it was a street hockey game outside, a neighbourhood-guys football game on a vacant lot close by, ping pong in the basement or a wrestling match in some corner of the house, Dale was usually right in the middle of it. Needless to say he was very competitive!
Whatever interest he had, he did it with all his heart and soul. This was seen in some of his school projects, his first jobs and in his Christian faith. Dale invited Christ into his life when he was 10 years old after a week of Bible Camp. The family attended Kennedy Heights MB Church in Delta, BC where Dale was a very active participant in its programs, and where he was baptized as a youth.
After high school, Dale worked for 2 years, bought a one ton truck with a box and contracted deliveries through Nickels Cartage. He worked hard, getting up early and working late to make enough money so he could attend Bible School in Saskatchewan. He attended Bethany Bible School for 3 years. It was during these years where his interests changed from working and making money to serving the Lord and Missions. All his adult life was involved in some sort of ministry outreach. He served as a camp counsellor for a few summers and a Board Member for Camp Sagitawa; volunteered as the Saturday Night DJ on a local radio station in Fort St. John, where he was given permission to play contemporary Christian music. His latter years were taken up serving people in need, whether it was through the Salvation Army in Langley, or most recently, with the Salvation Army & Five and Two ministry in Abbotsford. His life could be summed up with the verse from the book of James: “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”.
Dale had other interests in this world as well. He loved Vancouver sports teams. He talked about his Black Cadillac and the details pertaining to it, if you had the time to listen. He also had an interest in Mennonite and family history. All these things paled, though, in comparison to his heart after the Lord. A family friend summed it up a few days ago by saying “he definitely had a heart for God”.

Dale passed away in Abbotsford, Friday Oct 18, 2024 after a long battle with Multiple Myeloma and a life ending Covid Pneumonia. He fought hard to the end.  He is predeceased by his parents, his two younger brothers Dave and Al. He is survived by his brothers John (Dawn), Rick (Susan) and George, sister-in-law Lana and several nieces/nephews.   We have comfort in the reality that “now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face” (I Cor 13:12). We can only imagine what Dale is experiencing today.