Dale Merritt, 94, of Centerville, passed away Friday, March 20 at his home. Funeral services will be Friday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Centerville. Visitation with family will be 6-8 p.m. with a Wake Service at 7p.m., Thursday, March 26, also at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. If you spent a minute with Dale, you couldn't help but feel good about yourself. His laugh was fantastic. He would lean back, crease his face and let it roll through his whole body until out it came, raspy and full of joy. You had no idea how great your story could be until you told it to Dale. And he always wanted to hear more. Dale was born in Parker, S.D. on Jan. 14, 1921 to Floyd and Laura (Fritz) Merritt. He graduated from Parker High School in 1939 and later attended Dunwoody Baking School in Minneapolis, Minn., before going to work for the Pillsbury Flourmill, also in Minneapolis. Dale married Minnie "Skip" Bosch on May 2, 1942, the beginning of a 72-year marriage. He entered the U.S. Navy later that year and served until he was honorably discharged in Nov. 1945. In 1946, Dale and Skip bought the Royal Bake Shop in Centerville. For the next 40 years they baked cookies, cakes, rolls and other goodies for friends and neighbors of the area. They retired in 1986 and wintered in Arizona for much of their retirement. Dale was a 29-year member of the Centerville City Council, past President of the South Dakota Bakers' Association, past President of the Centerville Chamber of Commerce, member of the Good Shepard Catholic Church Knights of Columbus (Knight of the Year for South Dakota in 2002), member of the Centerville Rotary Club, member of the American Legion and member of the Centerville Fire Department. Dale and Skip were blessed with four children: Ronald (Marcene), Donna (Larry) Ryken (deceased), Dennis (Susan) and Patricia (William) Drui; eleven grandchildren: Michael (Cindy) Merritt, Kathy (Donald) Dvorack, Tami (Kerry) Canady, Timothy (Christi) Merritt, Jeffrey (Paola) Merritt, Mark (Melanie) Ryken, Lance (Ann) Ryken, Lisa Ryken, Matthew (Jodi) Merritt, Samuel Merritt and Angela Merritt; and 24 great-grandchildren. Dale was preceded in death by his parents and seven brothers and sisters: Bob, Ardell Lankhorst, Eldon, Gerald, Rita, Muriel and Donna; and one daughter, Donna Marie Ryken. Dale loved his family and friends well and noted on the day he died, "I've had a good run!"