Obituary

Dallas Eugene Rohrs died peacefully at Edencrest Green Meadows in Johnston, Iowa on Veterans Day, November 11, 2023. He was surrounded by family who filled his last earthly moments with love and prayers. He died of a broken heart after losing his wife of 68 years on October 8, 2023.

Dallas was born on November 16, 1930 in Mitchell, South Dakota. His family included his father, Walter, mother, Nadine, and sister, Patricia. He began life on the family farm north of Kimball, South Dakota. He spent most of his youth growing up in Rapid City and the Black Hills area. He talked often about the fun he and his cousins would have playing around their grandparents farm. In 1946 the family moved to Bridgeport, Nebraska and Dallas graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1948. It was in Bridgeport where Dallas met many people who would remain friends for life. Most importantly, it was at Bridgeport High School where Dallas met the girl of his dreams, Gerry Berta.

After high school Dallas attended Chadron State College for a short time before enlisting in the United States Marine Corp. He was deployed to Korea and served time in the Mt. Chang San area and at the Delta site near Pusan, Korea. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1952. Later, in the 60’s when the television show “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” was popular, Dallas would joke that, although the show was funny and entertaining, it didn’t accurately depict his Marine experience of “being shot at in Korea”.

After leaving the military Dallas found his way back to the South Dakota and began work with Black Hills Power. He found himself making trips to a farm in Broadwater, Nebraska where Gerry Berta lived. Those many trips led to a June 4, 1955 wedding and Dallas and Gerry began what would be a 68 year union.

Dallas and Gerry began married life in Rapid City where Dallas continued to work for Black Hills Power while attending school at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. In 1956 their son, Patrick, was born and they continued to live in Rapid City until September 1961 when Dallas took a job with an electrical equipment distributor and moved to Des Moines, Iowa. He continued to work in that field until he retired in 1997 after working several years for Cahoon Sales of Iowa City.

Dallas enjoyed his retirement years and delved into a multitude of home projects. He was a handyman who could fix anything involving his cars or his home. He loved working in the yard and garden and was always interested in any new technological gadgets. He loved sports and attended hundreds of sporting events involving his son, grandson, and great-grandson. He loved listening to his Minnesota Twins on the radio and was someone who could root for both the Hawkeyes and Cyclones even though he had the most fun cheering on the Cornhuskers with his high school friends. He loved music and had an extensive collection of Big Band, Jazz, and Country and Western music.

Dallas was a quiet, kind, generous, and gentle soul who would do anything for his family and friends. To know him is to love him.

Dallas is greatly missed by his son, Patrick (Sally) of Clive, Iowa, grandson Daniel (Anna) of Clive, and great-grandchildren Elijah, Rebecca, and Elizabeth. He is also survived by cousins Dick Johnson and Connie Nelson and several nieces, nephews and their families whom he loved dearly.

Preceding Dallas into heaven were his wife, Gerry, his parents Walter and Nadine, sister Patricia Collins, and in-laws Ray and Renie Jessen, Tony and Vera Reano, and Wilson Berta.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday November 16 at Iles Dunn’s Chapel. Family will greet friends an hour prior to the services and internment will be at Glendale Cemetery with full military honors.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Veterans Administration who has provided Dallas with extraordinary services for several years, the staff at Edencrest, and the folks at Care Initiatives Hospice whose care and compassion is beyond measure.

Donations may be directed to Care Initiatives Hospice in Dallas’ memory.

ILES DUNN'S CHAPEL

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