Dale Henriksen

Clarence Dale Henriksen was born October 7, 1928, to Clarence Adelbert and Martha Katherine (Jensen) Henriksen in Audubon County, Iowa, and passed away Thursday, August 1, 2013, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa.

Dale was baptized and confirmed at what is now Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Audubon. He attended rural schools and graduated from the Audubon High School in 1947. Dale attended Iowa State College earning a degree in farming operations

On February 10, 1951, Dale was married to Ruth Janette Jessen in the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Dale was inducted into the United States Army on March 1, 1951. He was stationed at Camp Atterbury, IN until he was sent to Germany. Dale was discharged from the Army in February, 1953, at which time he and Ruth settled north of Audubon and began a lifetime of farming. Over the years, his farming operation consisted of cattle feeding, crops, and hogs. In 1957 he was honored as a Master Swine Producer by the Iowa Pork Producers. In 1964 he and Ruth began raising Arabian horses. Today, the Henriksen Arabian breeding program has achieved national recognition and remains extremely competitive at a national level. Dale, along with his father, Clarence and brother, Norman, were among the original shippers in the Audubon's Operation T-Bone. In 2007 he and Norman were honored as Grand Marshals of the T-Bone Parade. Dale and Ruth were also honored as Outstanding Farm Family of 1985 at the Audubon Chamber of Commerce Banquet, and Dale received the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award at the Audubon County Farm Bureau Banquet in 2010.

He was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Audubon, the Audubon Saddle Club, Cattleman's Association, T-Bone Association, Arabian Horse Society of Iowa, and the national Arabian Horse Association and was a Farm Bureau member.

Dale thoroughly enjoyed family and visiting with everyone. He adored his grand-kids and tried to attend all their activities. He also took great pride in donating blood at the local bloodmobiles.

Preceding Dale in death were his wife, Ruth Henriksen; his parents, Clarence and Martha Henriksen; his sisters, Phyllis Olsen and Ardyth Laursen, his brother, Norman Henriksen; and brother-in-law, Lisle Hash.

Dale is survived by his children, Kent (Tammy) Henriksen, Rene (Ivan) Blocker, and Ann (Steve) Brinkman all of Audubon; his grandchildren, Lindsey Henriksen, Tara (Drew) Baier, Brittney Henriksen, Travis (Rachel) Connor, Cherish Connor, Brandon (Ashley) Blocker, Sarah Brinkman and Matthew Brinkman; his great-grandchildren, Cadence Henriksen, Brooklynn Young, Brylie Baier and Hunter Blocker; his sister, Marilyn Hash of Brigham City, UT; his brothers-in-law, Wayne Olsen of Atlantic, IA and Marvin Laursen of Muscatine, IA; his sister-in-law, Dorothy Henriksen of Atlantic, IA; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held Thursday, August 8, 2013, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 5:00 p.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Audubon.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 9, 2013, with viewing time from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Hockenberry-England Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.