Dale Ralph Myrland

Dale Ralph Myrland died on Monday night, October 14th, 2024. He was 95 years old.

Born on June 19th, 1929 in Madison, Dale grew up in the Gregory Street neighborhood—almost all of it—living in eight or nine rented houses in that area before his mom and dad bought one at the top of Sheldon Street.

He attended Dudgeon Elementary School where he was a passing student and a precocious athlete. He loved baseball—especially—and spent hours playing catch, pepper and pickle with friends at Wingra Park. (On a recent drive, there, he noted with real sadness the absence of all the backstops.)

At Madison West High School, he excelled on the basketball court, and on the diamond when West High finally added baseball to the list of high school sports his senior year.

But the most significant development of Dale’s high school years was his introduction to Marlys Jewett on an ice-skating evening at Vilas Park. That was that. They dated, then married, loved, supported, sustained and in all ways cared for each other for the next seventy-one years until Marlys died in 2021.

Their romance and marriage had to accommodate baseball seasons for years as Dale progressed from high school baseball to the minor leagues, spending time with teams in Janesville, Temple Texas and Sioux Falls, signing, initially with the Cubs before being traded to the Red Sox as a minor leaguer. He pitched (a lefty) and played first base when he was not on the mound (because he could hit). 

He had many notable baseball moments. He batted (unsuccessfully) against Leroy “Satchel” Paige, when the Kansas City Monarchs came to Madison to play against a collection of local All Stars. He struck out Henry Aaron in Carson Park, Eau Claire, Wisconsin when both he and Hammerin’ Hank were in their minor-league years.

He smiled whenever the story was told. 

“The next guy up was Horace Garner,” he would say. “And he hit one so hard, I believe it is still going.” 

Dale also batted against Eddie Feigner (The King And His Court)—the legendary softball pitcher who would pitch to batters from second base . . . and strike them out. 

“Did you hit him, Dad?” (Another big smile.) 

“Nope.” 

And that was Dale Myrland: Happy to live and remember all that life pitched to him—with honesty, humility, and—always—a smile.

Marlys and Dale welcomed their first child, Jim, in 1952 while Dale was still playing baseball, and their second, Tommy, in late January of 1954. Tragically, Tommy was born with severe spina bifida and he died on June 6th of the same year.

The unimaginable trauma of losing a child left many emotional scars. It also ended Dale’s Major League dream.

The Myrlands made Madison their home and Dale went to work with his father, Ralph, and his brother-in-law, Willie Brockman at the Wingra Meat Market on the corner of Monroe and Sprague Streets. For thirty-one years, Dale worked Mondays through Fridays (8 AM – 5:30 PM) and Saturdays (8 AM – 5 PM)—with an occasional half-day off on Wednesdays—until the market closed in 1985. In those years Molly and Dale raised two more boys, Steve and Brian.

Between those who knew Dale for his baseball exploits and those who knew him from all those years at the meat market, pretty much everyone in Madison knew Dale Myrland.

“You must be one of Dale’s boys,” is a line Jim, Steve and Brian have heard all their lives. And it is a wonderful thing that they have always been able to respond in the affirmative, with pride.

 Dale struggled with the grief of losing Marlys in 2021, and faced some health challenges of his own, after that. He survived it all and never stopped living with grace and gratitude for all his life had given him. And though he grieved continuously for Molly . . . he always acknowledged the simple truth of their enduring love and long lives:

“We sure can’t say we were cheated.”

He enjoyed a wonderful spring, summer and fall in 2024, right up until he suffered a stroke in the early morning hours of October 13th. He died the following night. 

Dale is survived by his three sons and their families:

James (Mary Moroder);

Steven (Kellie Murphy);

Brian (Ann [Felly] Myrland); 

Grandchildren:

Jim: Michael (Jenna) Myrland; Asia (Kameron) Shah and Brett (Cherise) Myrland

Steve: Willie and Tom Myrland

Brian: Jacob (Ami) Myrland; Allie (Kris) Kiley

Great Grandchildren:

Olive and Eva (Michael & Jenna)

Roya, Jasper and Quinn (Asia & Kam)

Felix Dale (Brett & Cherise)

Jasen and Brady (Jacob & Ami)

Kane & Jaret (Allie and Kris)

Dale Myrland was a gentleman. He set a superb example for his sons and lived a good life—all the way to the end.

The family wishes to thank everyone at All Saints Assisted Living and Agrace Hospice Care for the kindness and care they showed Dale and his family this past year.

A memorial service for Dale and for Molly—because her death during the Covid epidemic robbed her of a memorial service of her own, and Dale made it clear she must finally get her due—on Saturday, November 2nd, at 2:30 PM at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 326 South Segoe Road, in Madison

Following the service, all are invited to a casual get-together for food and refreshment afterward at: The Great Dane Pub & Brewery – Hilldale, 357 Price Place, Madison.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Agrace Hospice Care. (https://www.agrace.org/locations/madison/)