Alice Lila Shields Dale

Alice was born in Tooele, Utah, on February 11, 1937, to Arthur Elden Shields and Cleo McKendrick. She passed away in St. George, Utah, on January 9, 2026, at the age of 88. Her parents affectionately named her after both of their mothers.

She married W. Ronald Dale on August 24, 1955, and was later sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on March 27, 1961. Together, they recently celebrated their remarkable 70th wedding anniversary.

The hallmark of Mother’s life was service, hard work, and dedication to her beliefs.

She started working at a very young age at the Tooele Strand Theater on Main Street, cherishing the memories she made there. She then transitioned into a position as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell. She felt this was her first full-time adult position and was proud to have her own money and appreciated the opportunity the operator position afforded her to showcase her talents and work ethic. Mom spoke fondly of her time as a telephone operator, vividly recalling the days of manually connecting each call, 3- or 4-digit phone numbers, party lines, and shift work. She really enjoyed the ladies she worked with and the camaraderie she felt with each of them.

While working at the phone company, she continued her pursuit of academics and ultimately received her teaching certificate. Mother became a certified teacher’s aide and substitute teacher and served at almost every level and at every school. Many former students fondly remembered her as a compassionate listener and credited her with shaping their academic journeys and personal growth.

Alice was a fierce proponent of working women and advocated tirelessly for their equality, inclusion, and recognition in the workforce.

Alice’s civic commitment to her community extended to hosting elections at her home, serving as one of the designated polling locations for Tooele County. Each election cycle, the family was given specific assignments, and the house was completely rearranged so that the voting booths could be erected in the living room. Mother wanted to ensure voters could exercise their right to vote and have a warm, welcoming environment while they checked in or waited for a flag-striped booth to open. A bedroom was also cleared so votes could be tabulated by on-site election officials. It was a lot of work, and Mother did it gracefully and with great pride, as she felt it was where the grass met the roots in our democracy.

She campaigned for many Utah politicians at every level and enjoyed attending conventions as an elected delegate.

Mother started her federal career working for the Air National Guard at the Salt Lake City Airport and fondly remembered her time spent working there as some of the most satisfying work she had ever accomplished. While employed there, Mother was consistently recognized as a valued employee and was often awarded for her superior performance, not only by the Air Guard but also by other branches of the military. She ultimately retired from Tooele Army Depot in 1995 and reflected warmly on her years of federal service.

Mother was also a vibrant member of the Red Hat Society, relishing their lively gatherings.

Mother and Dad ran the operations of the Tooele Historical Society and accomplished many monument placements and renovations of existing monuments while serving in their capacities. They also collected audio and video histories of many descendants of Tooele’s first pioneer and mining families.

Mother was the founder of the Helen Gillespie Shields Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Camp, served as the first Camp Captain, held many positions on the board, and in 2018 was instrumental in getting the Pine Canyon Charcoal Kiln a plaque to recognize and commemorate it as a protected piece of history in the Pine Canyon community. She also made arrangements for the monthly meetings and invited a wide array of speakers to present Tooele County history from their unique perspectives.

Mother and Dad diligently supported each other in their respective civic endeavors and worked closely on projects that benefited both the Sons and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. One such project was the placement of the Pioneer Monument at the Old Tooele City Library in commemoration of the first settlers in Tooele.

Alice’s dedication to youth was evident in her early and consistent involvement with Cub and Boy Scouting, helping all her sons ultimately achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Mother was an ardent supporter of her children and their children in all of their activities. She chaperoned children on field trips, attended band recitals and parades, and tried to attend every sporting event in which she had a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild involved. She held numerous scouting positions, enthusiastically supporting pinewood derbies, merit badge achievements, service projects, and award ceremonies.

Mother served various callings in the Church, but she enjoyed her time in Primary and Scouting the most.

Mother was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Ron; her brothers, Donald and Richard; and her sister, Shirley.

She is survived by her sons, Ronnie (Cheryl), David (Lorri), and Doug (Craig); her sister, Sonja; her brother, Kent; and their families.

Mother is proudly survived by her eight grandchildren, Jayson, Cody, Chris, Zach, Lindsey, Ashley, Mackenzi, and Lizzie; and her 13 great-grandchildren, Braylin, Jalen, Mason, Elizabeth, Hayden, Ace, Benson, Jack, Kellen, England, Andi, Sunni, and Mabel.

As per her request, she will have an intimate graveside service and be interred next to Dad.