Robert “Dale” Griffin, 60, Hill City, Kansas, went to meet the Lord on
January 21, 2021, in Topeka, Kansas. He was born June 22, 1960, to Bobby
Lee and Barbara (Hyde) Griffin in Norton. Dale and his five brothers
spent most of their childhood on Grandma and Grandpa Hyde’s farm north
of Morland. There, with the help of his Uncle Sherman, he learned to do
chores, hunt, fish, ride horses, take care of livestock and just be a
boy. In his teen years he spent time hunting, farming the fields,
working cattle and sheep, and doing mechanic and welding work on
equipment and tractors. The farm is where he gained the knowledge of how
things work mechanically.
As a young boy the family learned that Huntington’s Disease ran in
his dad’s side of the family. Dale experienced death at an early age
watching his brothers succumb to this deadly disease through the years.
This made him realize how valuable life really was.
Dale attended school in Morland. After high school in 1978, he met
his future wife, Belinda Owen. They were married April 13, 1981, in Hill
City. Valentine’s Day 1990 they were blessed with their only child, a
daughter Kelsi Jo. He spent time teaching her to ride horses, hunt,
fish, ride motorcycles and do chores on the farm. He supported and
cheered her on at her volleyball games and track meets. Kelsi blessed
him with two grandsons, Riley and Tolan. His favorite thing to do with
the boys was going to the fairgrounds where they raced their Traxxas
remote race cars. November of 2020 another grandchild arrived, this time
a girl named Stetli.
Dale had a gift of conversation. He could talk with anyone.
Sometimes he had no filter, but most of the time he was respectful to
others. His witty humor, orneriness, and “gift of gab” made him many
friends during his lifetime. Although Dale was a farmer at heart, at 17
he began working here and there in the oil industry. His jobs included
pulling units, drilling rigs, hauling and setting up units, and backhoe
work. In other words, working at just about everything the oil industry
had to offer. Theses hands-on learning experiences led him to his next
adventure.
In 1993 Dale started his own oil field pumping business, RD
Contract Pumping. Thanks to the knowledge from previous jobs, he and
Belinda successfully expanded their business into what it is today. Dale
was a hard worker taking pride in everything he did. He often said,
“Don’t do it if you’re not going to do it right.” Dale left his legacy
of hard work and determination to his daughter and other employees.
Summer was his favorite time of the year. Hay farming was his
passion because he loved the smell of the freshly cut hay and being
alone with God in the field. Dale said he found the Lord in sunrises
while there. He loved being outside in “God’s Country." Dale had many
Facebook followers who anxiously awaited his next beautiful sunrise
picture post. His photographs were truly a gift from God.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers:
Rusty, Jack, Chuck, James, and Kenny; and one sister, Pam.
Survivors left to cherish his memory are his wife, Belinda, of the home; a daughter, Kelsi Jo Burns and companion Travis Ray, of Smith Center; two grandsons, Riley and Tolan; a granddaughter Stetli; a sister Sydnee and husband Scott Beydler of Wakeeney; nieces: Tiffany and husband Dalton Breinig of Lenora, Shaylin Russell of Manhattan, and Maisie Beydler of Wakeeney; other relatives and many friends. All who loved and knew Dale will definitely feel an emptiness in their lives. However, with every beautiful Kansas sunrise, we will smile and remember Dale.
Click HERE for service details.