Dale Sprague Obituary

Dale Margaret Sprague, age 83, died June 22nd, 2025 in her home in Show Low. She was surrounded by family and a few close friends. Dale was born in Paterson, New Jersey on June 17th, 1942. At a very young age she learned to play the xylophone, marimba, and vibes and appeared numerous times on TV and Radio shows playing her beloved instruments. At a talent show for The Volunteers of America, at age 7, little Dale won the 50 dollar first prize. Under protestations by the organization's director, little Dale returned the prize to him explaining "I would like you to use this money to send some poor child to the Volunteers' camp this summer." This would be a lifelong theme of giving for Dale.

While in NJ, Dale became an LVN, got married, and started a family. Seeking better opportunities (and better weather), her young family moved across the nation to Vista, CA. Over the next 60 years, Dale worked at several hospitals in Southern California including those in Oceanside, Escondido, Indio, Palm Desert, Fallbrook, Corona, and Murrieta.

Early in her career while working at Palomar hospital in Escondido, Dale restarted her family and married her second husband Clinton Sprague. Already with two children, DJ and Steven Tester, her and Clint soon welcomed a son, Edward Sprague in 1977. In the middle of their careers, Dale and Clint purchased Fallbrook Medical Services Clinical Laboratory in Fallbrook. Soon with the success of their new laboratory, they opened a second one in Temecula, CA. However, shortly after opening the second lab, Clint had his first heart attack. The couple was in the process of obtaining a new health insurance policy and had just dropped their old one when the heart attack occurred. No insurance company would take them on after this and he would also soon be diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Faced with yet another of life's hurdles (and there were many), she and Clint sold the labs to help pay for his mounting medical bills and other costs the business had incurred. Dale began working double duty - sometimes two jobs to support her family.

Her neverending pursuit for a better life for her and Clint (kids were now grown), Dale eventually moved to the White Mountains area, first to Snowflake, then Taylor, and ultimately to Show Low, all the while working at Navapache Regional Medical Center in Show Low as a phlebotomist.

Tirelessly working to make her husband's life as good as possible for a number of years, she eventually lost her beloved husband, Clint on June 3rd, 2009. She left the hospital in December of 2019 which was devastating to her as she was so dedicated to her work and keeping a close bond with patients and co workers alike.

At each of her stops along Dale's journey through life (especially in her career), she left a lasting legacy behind of compassion, humility, and love for her fellow human beings. She had a special talent for spotting people in need and often suffering silently in pain and never hesitated to step in and offer help in any way she could. It did not matter your social status, religion, age, or color. She cared deeply for those who accepted her help and often made new friends every time she left her home.

Dale tipped everyone! If she won a few bucks on a lottery ticket, she paid it forward by giving some of the winnings to the clerk behind the counter. She tipped a few dollars to every fast food drive thru window worker often making their day. She will be sorely missed and those that never met her are unfortunate. She was blunt and honest with her speech but always, always kind at heart. Most that knew her well referred to her as Salty Dale or Feisty Dale. In a word she was fierce.

Dale is survived by her children, DJ (Brian) Schafer of Copperton, Utah, Steven (Roberta) Tester of Vista, CA, Edward Sprague of Edmond, Oklahoma, nine grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and even her lifelong friends John Tester (first husband) and his wife Josephine.

A private graveside service is to be held at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix on July 1st. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Savior Hospice & Palliative Care at www.saviorhospice.org in her name. She loved taking care of her patients and hospice helped us care for her. Please help pay her love forward.

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