Obituary: Dale William Bake
March 3, 1939-August 23, 2015
With much love and sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved Dale William Bake on August 23, 2015. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He will be deeply missed by all. His 76 years of life were lived to the fullest and with much happiness.
Dale William Bake was born on March 3, 1939 in Malad, Idaho. He grew up in Malad with two sisters and four brothers. On March 5, 1956, at the age of 17, he joined the United States Air Force. Dale reported to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas for military training. He was then stationed in Mountain Home, Idaho and was also assigned temporary duty in Guam. Because of his sense of adventure and mischievous ways, he was regularly assigned kitchen patrol. Dale was so good at his duties in the kitchen that he was given the opportunity to attend cooking school, and was granted a permanent position as a cook during his four years of service.
A love story also began in Mountain Home. Dale met the love of his life, and he and Mary Ann were married on June 20, 1958. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force on March 4, 1960, Dale, Mary Ann and daughter Debbie moved to Tooele, Utah where he worked in the mining industry. From Tooele, they moved briefly to Eagleville, California and settled in Gerlach, Nevada where Dale worked at the U.S. Gypsum mine. In July 1966, after the addition of son Ed, the family picked up and moved to Silver Peak, Nevada where he worked for the Foot Mineral lithium mine. While in Silver Peak, Dale and Mary Ann welcomed their third child, daughter Mary Lu, in 1971.
In 1972, the Bake family moved to Gabbs, Nevada where Dale worked at Basic, Inc. magnesium mine, spending the majority of his time in both the oil house and lab until his retirement in 2004. Dale was an active member of the Gabbs community. He coached both his son Ed and daughter Mary Lu on little league teams. He was a Charter Member of the Lions Club and was also a part-time Nye County Deputy as well as a member of the volunteer fire department. Dale was an avid hunter and fisherman, and with a sparkle in his eyes, loved telling tales of the outdoors to his family and friends. Dale and Mary Ann enjoyed raising their family in Gabbs and were able to spend many more years together watching their grandchildren Lacie and James grow.
Dale moved to Lovelock, Nevada in 2005. He loved spending his time hunting and fishing, cheering on his grandchildren Owen and Abigail in sports, and taking car rides with his dog Lucy. He also loved when his grandchildren, Fiona and Gavin, would visit him from Eureka. Dale was also fond of his firehouse poker games and playing the penny slots in town.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents (Everett Lester and Mary Amanda), sister Thelma (Rod) Treyman, brothers Don (Neva) Bake, Oliver (LuJuana) Bake, Phil (Emi) Bake and Lynn (Barb) Bake and by his beautiful bride of 45 years, Mary Ann (Overstreet) Bake.
He is survived by his sister, Grace Williams, his daughter Debbie (Elvie) Selbach, son Ed (Shauna) Bake, and daughter Mary Lu (Nate) Denshire. He will be missed greatly by his 6 grandchildren: Lacie (Chris) Finke, James Bourland, Abigail Bake, Owen Bake, Fiona Denshire and Gavin Denshire); great-grandchildren Bailee Daly and Lauren Finke will miss his kind heart. Additionally, he has many nieces and nephews that will miss him.
A funeral service will be held at Smith’s Family Funeral Home in Fallon, Nevada on Sunday, August 30th at 1:00 PM. Graveside services will follow at the Fallon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to a charity of your choice.