By Brenna Wiegand
The term “icon” tends to come up in reference to Dale Price.
In his 63 years on Earth, he personified the loving kindness, trustworthiness and glory of God, whether speaking before a crowd of 1,000, a small band of camp counselors or to one hurting soul.
He was never too busy.
Yet he was a extremely busy man who never did anything half way.
Five years after marrying Ruby Campbell in 1970, Army 2nd Lt. Dale Price retired from active duty to join forces with his father-in-law, Ernie Campbell, and become an ambassador for Christ.
On 80 pastoral acres outside Silverton, they hammered up cabins and forged dreams into reality, creating Bible Teaching Inc., a corporation encompassing Canyonview Camp; the seminary, a printing press and equestrian center-college – myriad ways with which to engage in their “Christ-centered, Bible-teaching ministry.”
A well-loved, warm and humorous community member, Dale gave countless baccalaureate messages; was an active member of the staff at Silverton First Baptist; and gave 30 years of gusto as a Kiwanis Club leader. One of his many recruits was Randal Thomas, a Silverton City Councilor for whom Dale became a mentor, both in family life and public service.
“During O-Fest, many will remember Dale hocking sausages from the Kiwanis booth with his now-famous pitch, ‘A loaf of bread, a pound of meat, and all the mustard you can eat!’” Thomas said.
He remained active in the Army Reserves until leaving, a colonel, in 1999.
To his sons Matthew and Joshua, their father had all the time in the world.
“I had no idea how busy he was because he was always there for us,” Joshua Price said. In addition to proudly helping him at the camp, neither can think of a football game their dad missed. Rather, they look back in wonder – at their dad constructing a huge half-pipe in the yard for fledgling skateboarders; at all those backpacking, boating and biking trips; at their dad being as eager as they were to try this new thing called snowboarding – and at him still snowboarding with his grandsons up until the past year.
He and Ruby welcomed their friends into the family with open arms, bolstered many a broken heart and showed them a great time in the process.
“Mom and dad were an incredible team,” Matthew Price said. “Their love for each other has been inspiring – loving notes, words of affection and flowers going back and forth… They cheered each other on; mom with dad’s military and camp careers, and dad with her career in education as a principal and a superintendent.”
But everything came to a halt in September 2008, when Dale received a terminal cancer diagnosis and was given six months to live.
Surgery was off the table, and doctors were dubious as to the benefits of embarking upon long, grueling courses of radiation and chemo. Dale asked a doctor what he would do.
“…get new flip flops and go to Hawaii and be dead in six months,” Dale related in a message in August. Dale had become accustomed to listening for another.
“I believe God has a different scenario for me,” he told the doctor. “If I fell out of a boat God wouldn’t expect me to lay back and suck water. He would expect me to swim – and swim with all my strength; and with all my might, and with all my heart. …And if he sends a great white to eat me while I’m swimming, I will certainly know that it’s my time, but until then, I’m swimming…”
Dale made his journey and its lessons public through his blog at www.caringbridge.org/visit/daleprice. He shared his message of hope through articles, speaking engagements and Facebook. Little did he realize how universal its appeal.
After speaking at a national conference for leaders of Christian camps, a man from Uzbekistan approached, telling Dale, “Our people need to hear this message.” During the two years following his diagnosis, Dale traveled three times to Russia to bring encouragement to young Christian camp leaders under severe religious persecution.
“What Jesus did in my life is, he grabbed my hand and lifted me out of the green pastures and beyond the still waters and we walked into the valley of the shadow of death, hand in hand,” Dale said.
“Tribulation is what God uses to develop our character. Patience, endurance and long suffering – all those things, as far as I can tell – don’t really happen in the green pastures or when I’m lying by the still waters. Those shadows, however, can play nasty tricks, seeking to rob you of your joy.
“I find that all I have to do is look at his face and the darkness flees,” Dale said. “The trouble doesn’t go away, but the worry; the anxiousness goes to him.”
In February of 2009 – right about the time he should have died – Dale began using the phrase “Life in Hi-Def,” explaining how his ordeal brought new clarity to all of life, sifting into view the things of eternal significance.
“When a person talked with Dale, no matter who they were, they always felt like the most important person in the world,” Matthew’s wife Amy said.
“He had endless energy,” Matthew said. “I can think of very few things he actually did for himself.”
“His four grandsons were his life and they all considered him their hero,” Joshua’s wife Jennifer said.
“Everything was an adventure with Dad,” Matthew said. “He was just such an amazing example to me from the way he lived. He never lost his wonder at God’s creation, and always focused on relationships over tasks.”
“It was so amazing growing up at Canyonview,” Joshua said, “surrounded by nature; singing praise and worship songs around the campfire, Dad on the guitar.”
And that is how they parted on April 16, 2011.
“We were all gathered together,” Josh said. “We spent the whole day praying and singing praise songs; there were guitars…”
A life lived and completed in Hi-Def.
