Dale Tremain Obituary

Dale Tremain, 68, of Saint Paul died on October 6th, with his wife of almost 47 years, Laurie Balfour Tremain, at his side.

In addition to Laurie, Dale leaves his mother, Mary Benteman, brother Michael Tremain (Liz), sisters Judy Tremain and Karen Bentemann, nieces and nephews and other family members, as well as many dear friends of all ages.

Dale was preceded in death by his father, Elmer E. Tremain, his step-father, Fritz W. Benteman, and Fritz's daughter, Nada Schmidt.

"For Dale, family wasn't defined only by bloodlines," his brother said. Dale loved people and was known for his selflessness and generosity. He considered each person he met a potential friend and part of his extended family. In recent years, he was honored to officiate at several weddings of family and friends.

While growing up in Lawrence, Kansas, Dale became a faithful fan of the Kansas University Jayhawks basketball team and the St. Louis Cardinals. During the Vietnam War, he was a conscientious objector and served two years of alternative service in California. He then attended college, graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in architecture and a lifelong passion for Cal Bears football.

Dale and Laurie moved to Minneapolis, where he received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota. After graduation, he and Laurie made their permanent home in the Twin Cities. Dale eventually became a long-suffering Timberwolves fan, sharing season tickets for many years.

For almost four decades, Dale dedicated his architecture career to the study and practice of design for aging. He was committed to creating environments that enhanced the dignity and independence of seniors, and he designed award-winning projects throughout the country, including Friendship Village in Bloomington, MN. As a mark of his clients' satisfaction, a number of them became his personal friends.

Dale enjoyed travel. Among other destinations, he and Laurie took many trips to the Bay Area of California, Wisconsin's Door County, Arizona, as well as annual excursions to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, where he and a group of friends founded a now annual "Baja Burning Man" festival of music and revelry.

Dale's passionate love of music ranged from the Grateful Dead to the Metropolitan Opera (with which he appeared as an onstage extra in performances at Northrop Auditorium). He enjoyed attending performances at the Dakota Jazz Club, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Minnesota Orchestra, and a wide variety of other artists and venues. One of his favorite quotes was from "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead: "Let there be songs to fill the air."

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to all of the skilled and compassionate professionals who cared for Dale at every stage of his illness, from diagnosis to residential hospice care. In addition, they would like to express their gratitude to special friends, John and Craig, along with an extensive network of other friends, neighbors, and family members who helped out in so many ways, big and small.

Gifts for scholarship funds in Dale's memory can be made to: MacPhail Center for Music, 501 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612-767-5327); Walker West Music Academy, 760 Selby Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55104 (651-224-2929); or directed to The College of Environmental Design-Architecture Fund (FN7503000) or The Fund for Excellence in the Arts & Humanities (FN7203000) at the University of California, Berkeley, at https://give.berkeley.edu/, or by mail: University Development and Alumni Relations, 2080 Addison St., #4200, Berkeley, CA 94720.

A service will take place in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, November 5, at 1:00 PM at Lawrence Heights Christian Church. In the spring, an outdoor celebration of Dale's life will be held in the Twin Cities.