We regret to advise of the death of Major Dale Edwin Thingvold, CD (Ret’d) of Chilliwack BC on 6 December 2021 at age 74 from complications of a chronic illness.
Dale was born in Shaunavon SK and was raised on a farm near Cadillac. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 17 and became an Electrician. He rose through the ranks from a Private in April 1965 to Master Warrant Officer when he was commissioned to the rank of Captain in 1984. Dale retired from the Regular Forces as a Major in 1997 and subsequently transferred to the Reserve Force where he served with 192 Airfield Engineering Flight Abbotsford until he fully retired in 2007.
During his lengthy service, Dale was posted to Canadian Forces bases at Greenwood NS, Ottawa ON, Chilliwack BC, Moose Jaw SK and Sudbury ON. He served twice at 1 Construction Engineering Unit at Winnipeg (1972 and 1988) and served at Air Command Headquarters where he travelled at length in the support of the North Warning System. Dale was the Base Construction Engineering Officer at CFB Winnipeg from 1991 to 1996. Over the years Dale also deployed to Alert NWT, Bermuda, Egypt, Texas, Florida, Kuwait, Dubai and Virginia during the 9/11 crisis.
After he retired from military life, Dale worked for Elections BC and as a Project manager with Weather Haven where he travelled to Kosovo, Macedonia and Croatia supervising the construction of temporary living quarters.
The funeral mass will be at St. Mary’s in Chilliwack On Saturday, 18 December 2021 at 11:00 am. Dale would be the first to help a stranger, neighbour or friend in need. To honour his memory, please pass on an Act of Kindness.
