Hitterdal, Minn. (WDAY TV)
One month ago today, the small town of Hitterdal was shaken when 53-year-old Dale McDougall was killed by a drunk driver, but the people in town are keeping his memory alive today at the third annual Polar Fest. A group of daring people took a plunge, a handful of them doing it in honor of Dale.
As Dale McDougall's friends throw their bodies into the icy waters of Lake Flora, his daughters say he would have something to say about it.
“Oh he'd think these people were crazy, haha, he would. He would say it was goofy, but yeah, he'd think it was cool.”
In a word, Dale's daughters say he was fun. The stuff small towns are made of, but he wasn't a plunger.
“Yeah, he'd have a ball, he'd be their biggest supporter. He wouldn't jump in, but he'd probably be first in line to watch it all.”
The women know their dad would have loved to be a part of the fun today and they're touched by the kind hearts in Hitterdal, honoring their dad like this.
“I think it means a lot that they would go to such extremes for him, and put his name on it.”
“I don't think anybody wakes up in the morning and thinks they're going to jump into a lake today, or wants to do that really, so, it's kinda crazy.”
There wasn't a stranger to dale in this crowd of people. In some way or another, he knew every person standing out here today.
“He loved living here and everything about it. He was just friends with everyone here, so, it's fun to see everyone out here doing something like that for my dad.”
As these plungers pull themselves out of the icy waters of Lake Flora, it's a sight and a gesture Dale's family will always remember.
A scholarship fund in Dave's name is also being set up at the Ulen-Hitterdal school.
1 comments:
I wish I could have been here. We miss you Uncle Dale. You will be remembered forever!
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