Dale J. Hens

Dale J. Hens, age 74, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at his home in Elrosa, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 19 at Saints Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Elrosa with Rev. Mark Botzet officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Dale Joseph Hens was born on June 29, 1950 in Belgrade, Minnesota to Richard and Florentine (Michels) Hens. Dale was a very sociable person and loved to talk to people. Dale loved to come to all the family and friends’ celebrations. It was incredible how Dale always remembered a birthday or other important dates. He said he had a computer chip in his brain.
Dale loved to go ice fishing, deer hunting, spray painting tractors, canning rhubarb jelly, and going anywhere that had a band playing. He would always have to request an Elvis song so he could do his dance, often out on the dance floor by himself.
Dale was very devoted to his family and his farm. He took over the Hens Century Farm in 1980 and only missed one milking out of 32,850 milkings. Dale kept and raised pigs for many years. After his dad died in 1994, Dale would farm with and care for his mother until her death in 2022.
Dale was an extraordinary son, brother, uncle, friend, and neighbor. He was everyone’s favorite “Uncle Dale.” He will be sorely missed.
Dale is survived by his sisters, Diane Hens (Kevin) and Karen (Ron) Altendahl; sister-in-law, Joyce Hens; uncle and aunt, Ed and Donna Kidrowski; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Florentine Hens; brother, Robert Hens; nephew Gary Boecker; grandparents; and many aunts and uncles.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.