****Here is the link to click on to view Dale’s Celebration of Life service.****Please follow the link: Dale Rott – Celebration of Live Service

Dale Dean Rott, age 86, of Taylors Falls, Minnesota, formerly of St. Paul, was welcomed into the loving arms of his savior Jesus Christ in the very early morning on Friday, July 31, 2020 at Woodland Hill Senior Living in Hudson, Wisconsin. Dale was born on October 3, 1933 in an upstairs bedroom of his grandparent’s farm near Avon, South Dakota, to Jacob and Alvina (Voigt) Rott. As the son of a Baptist minister, Dale grew up in several different towns and churches including Monroe, South Dakota, Odessa and Sumner, Washington, and Carbon, Alberta, Canada. Dale moved in with his grandparents for his senior year of high school, and graduated from Avon High School in 1951. He began his pre-theological college education at Sioux Falls University. Then he transferred to Augustana University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1955. Dale was united in marriage to Ruby DeBoer on June 26, 1956, at First Baptist Church in Corona, South Dakota. The couple were soon blessed with their first son, Kenneth. Dale continued his studies at North American Baptist Seminary, and graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree in 1958. During his last year at NAB, he was the student pastor at the First Christian church (Disciples of Christ) in Rock Rapids IA. Dale’s education continued as he earned a Master of Arts Degree from University of Redlands in California. During this time he was a member of the University of Redlands highly acclaimed Drama Trio that traveled nationwide. Having a desire to study under a world renowned religious theater professor, Dale and family traveled to Boston University in Massachusetts. He then received his third Masters, a Master of Fine Arts. After the completion of his education he accepted a position at Bethel University in St. Paul Minnesota where he began his lifelong career in Christian drama ministry. The family resided in the Como Park neighborhood beginning in September of 1962. They then welcomed the birth of second son, Keith. His family continued to grow with the birth of daughter, Kathryn, and the family relocated to a hobby farm near Taylors Falls Minnesota in 1968 where Dale enjoyed driving his tractor, tinkering on things, growing pumpkins, and tending his gardens.

At Bethel University, Dale dedicated his life to reaching out to those who didn’t know Jesus through Christian drama. He enjoyed organizing Christian drama tours with Bethel students on mission trips during Interim and spring breaks to the Philippines, Europe, China, Ukraine, Singapore, Hong Kong and Belize. These tours consisted of gospel dramas, puppets, pantomimes, and passion plays many of which were his original compositions. Dale impacted countless students in his tenure at Bethel who have gone on in theater and ministry around the world. He was an accomplished actor, director, play write, and drama professor but never considered his occupation as work. After retiring from Bethel University, he poured his soul into his Christian drama ministries which spanned several continents, focusing on the Countries of the Philippines and Ukraine. In conjunction with a famous Ukrainian director, the play Barabbas was performed in Cherkassy Ukraine. Dale’s other noteworthy play accomplishments were his research on the history of, the writing of and directing of the play How Great Thou Art. He also helped organize and keep track of the costumes for the Festival of Nations, and was proud of his work as the secretary of the International Religion and Theater Festival. Because of the work he did over the years and the relationships he built with churches, schools, and missionary groups, Dale was a reluctant celebrity wherever he went. He truly loved being around his family, and was very fond of entertaining his grandchildren and getting them to laugh. He enjoyed fishing and sharing stories from past fishing trips in Canada. He was delighted every chance he got to use his snow blower or chainsaw, and considered each opportunity a “labor” of love. Even with all of his ministries and other life travels, Dale since 1963, parked cars during the Minnesota State Fair. He was the instigator of a “community” parking effort in which the proceeds of parking cars would go to 1stCorinthians and other outreach ministries.

Dale will remain in the heart of his wife of 64 years, Ruby; children, Kenneth (Dianna), Keith (Bobby), and Katy (Marv) Call; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and sister, Carol Ann Rott. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Alvina Rott.

Dale’s love of teaching was an inspiration. He had decided in 1966 to donate his body to science. Therefore, his body has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program for research and learning purposes. He leaves an eternal impact in the spirit of teaching and education.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7th at Calvary Church, 2120 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Friday prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred in Dale’s memory.

One of Dale’s favorite poems

Safely Home

I am home in heaven, dear ones;
All’s so happy, all so bright!
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief are over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the Shade?
Oh! But Jesus love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s will.

There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idle stand;
Do your work while life remaineth-
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you home;
Oh, the rapture of the meeting!
Oh, the joy to see you come

Author unknown, Moody Press