Dale R. Briggs


Fish are once again safe in the Midwest. An avid, life-long fisherman, Dale Roger Briggs, known to many as “Spike,” passed away on May 20, 2018, at the age of 87 after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Born in Vermontville in 1930 to Dewey and Ruth (Shetenhelm) Briggs, Dale graduated from Vermontville High School before joining the U.S. Army in 1948. He completed four years of military service, including serving as a communications expert in Germany during the Korean War. All his life, he was a proud veteran of the American Legion. Upon completing his military service, he married his high school sweetheart, Bettyann Cole. They had four children, all of whom he taught to fish as well as to play push rummy and euchre.

He worked at Aluminum Extrusions for numerous years, and later became one of the first computer programmers, beginning work in Information Technology before there was such a thing, working for the Michigan Department of Education. Throughout his long life, Dale never lost touch with his roots, his friends, and his poker-playing buddies in Vermontville. He loved to hunt and fish, and thought nothing of sitting on a bucket on a frozen lake for hours at a time, never growing impatient when the fish didn’t bite. Every fall found him deer hunting around Vermontville, and he regularly visited his son, Mike in Montana for hunting expeditions.

He was much loved and is survived by his daughter, Kathi Eggers (Karl); sons, Jeffrey (Mary Jo), John (Wendy), and Mike (Carla); grandchildren, Kristin (Steven), Jesse (Sarah), Hayley, Clay (Kristyn), Keenan, Bethany, Tiffany (Todd), Jake, Eric (Jasmin), Kyle (Rhianna), and Marty; and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Rose Briggs; and his former wife and dear friend, Eileen Briggs.

As he requested, there will be no funeral services.

Donations may be made in Dale’s name to: Maple Valley Memorial Scholarship Fund; at barrycf.org/funds/maple-valley-memorial-scholarship-foundation-fund/Maple Valley Memorial Scholarship Fund, Maple Valley Schools, 11090 Nashville Highway, Vermontville, MI 49096 or Heartland Hospice of Mason at heartlandhospice.com or mail to 865 S. Cedar St, Mason, MI 48854.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Dale on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.