Former Yuma County resident, Dale F. Stoops received his Heavenly Promotion July 10, 2020, at Sterling Living Center, having lived 88 years and 11 months.
Born Aug. 10, 1931 at his maternal grandparents’ farm near Fleming, Mr. Stoops’ parents were Frank E. and Violet A. (Nelson) Stoops. He was second of 7 children.
The family farmed at Fleming, then near Abarr and Hughes, before moving into Kirk, and later returning to Logan County.
Dale attended country grade schools, including Fleming, Elk, and Sunny Side, then began working to help support his family.
In 1951 Dale married Barbara W. Anderson in Yuma. They had four children, David (Teresa) Stoops, now of Wash., Teresa (Lee) Roubideaux of Yuma, LaLani (Byron) Weathers of Yuma, and Meredith Woolley Banner (Rick) of Timnath. Dale and Barbara have ten grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
In 1955 Stoops moved to Sterling to operate Dale’s Sinclair East of town. Soon, custom harvesting from Oklahoma to Montana continued three decades, while also dealing in hardwood lumber. In 1970 he began raising irrigated corn in Yuma County.
Dale accepted Christ as a teen and lived to serve God and others. He and Barbara were married over 44 years. Over two decades they did missions to Mexico together, until her passing in 1996.
In the Seventies, Dale and Barbara pastored two years at Abarr, CO. Both became licensed ministers through Latin American Assemblies of God. Two nights per week, Dale taught bilingual MasterLife Bible Studies at Sterling prison ten years, and ministered at local jails and nursing homes.
In 1999, Dale married Modesta Rios in Sterling, gaining three children, David (Cheryl) Rios, Zoila Rios, all of Denver, and Sylvia (David) Abbott, of Calif. and their families.
Past president of Full Gospel Businessmen and lifelong Gideon, Dale served as deacon at First Assembly of God, Faith Tabernacle (Merino), then Templo Getsemani’. Since 1999, he and Modesta attended Rock Assembly, where Dale helped rehab the entire, huge property and became self-appointed Weed Puller!
Dale will be missed by many, especially Modesta, his wife of twenty-one years, who faithfully cared for him in recent months. He never knew a stranger and loved everyone he met. His passion was to share the love of Jesus and the Good News of Salvation. Many loved him and his uplifting words. He was also known for his quick math and scripture memorization.
Dale leaves his wife, Modesta, four children, spouses and their families, as well as his three step-children and their families; his brother and last surviving sibling, Richard (Mary) Stoops of Sterling; and Barbara’s brother, Larry D. Anderson, and her sister-in-law, Marge Anderson, both of Yuma.
Yuma grandchildren include Jeremy (Kara), Benjamin (Angie), and Nathan (Nikki) Weathers, as well as Travis (Jade) and Chase Roubideaux. Former Yuma grandchildren are Jonathan (Melissa) and Tyler Stoops. Non-Yuma grandchildren include Abigail (Seth) Cutter, Luke and Christian Woolley; they have given Dale fourteen great-grandchildren.
Step-grandchildren include Jeremy Adams; Angela Abbott Middlekauff, Joshua (fiance’ Angelica), Nathan, and Rachel Rios; Christopher (Shy) Rios; they have eight step-great -grandchildren.
Dale also leaves dear cousins, nieces, and many friends, but rejoins so many loved ones who believed and followed the Gospel.
Two services:
Life celebration is 4 pm, Friday, July 24, at Rock Assembly, Sterling.
A second, outdoor, sit-down service with music at Yuma Cemetery is 9:30 am Saturday, July 25. Meals follow both services. Guests are kindly requested to wear Dale’s favorite color of red.
Viewing is from 10:00 to 2:00 on Friday, July 24, 2020, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, 443 S. 2nd St., Sterling.
Memorials are designated to Gideons, Int’l.
2020-07-23