John Dahl
John Dahl
John Dahl, born on November 22, 1914 in Snohomish, Washington,
died peacefully in his Boise home on July 25, 2014. During his
nearly 100 years of life he was known for his kindness, wisdom and generosity
and for his deep love of family, country and business.
He lived a full and rewarding life, never looking back with any
regrets, always looking forward with a keen interest in what the next day would
bring and strong optimism for the future. In celebrating his life he is
remembered for his long happy marriage to his wife Gen, his love and respect of
family and friends, his service to our country, and his successful career with
Idaho’s Simplot Company.
His parents, Ole and Anne Moen Dahl, immigrated to the US at the
turn of the 20th Century. At age 6 the family moved to Brainerd,
Minnesota with plans of returning to Norway as his father was ill and wanted to
go back and live on the family farm in Molnbukt, Norway. When his father
was hospitalized with TB, John, his mother and older brother, Otto, remained in
Brainerd living in a house his father and uncle built. One of John's fond
memories as a child was of a neighbor stringing radio wire across the street so
he and his brother could listen to country music from Yankton, South Dakota.
After graduating from High School, John spent a year in
Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps in a northern Minnesota camp working as
a lumberjack and a supply storekeeper. John sent all of his monthly $45
pay to his mother who saved most of it to support his enrollment in the
University of Minnesota.
While attending the University to pay for his room and board he
did odd jobs working as a laborer in railroad shops, as a truck driver for a
creamery, and a bookkeeper in a summer camp for boys in northern
Minnesota. In his senior year he worked for the accounting firm of Ernst
& Ernst as an intern. Following college graduation in 1938, he worked
full time for 4 years at Ernst & Ernst on audit assignments and in the tax
department. He passed the C.P.A. exam in 1941 and earned his Minnesota
CPA Certificate (#336) setting the stage for his lifetime accounting
profession. Years later he furthered his higher education by attending
the advanced management program at Harvard.
In June 1940, John married Genevieve Tweet. He first noticed
her in High School but Gen made the first move and asked him out when they
reconnected in college. They were happily married for 71 years, having
four children, John (Jack), Catherine, Helen and Richard.
John was drafted into the Army after World War II started.
He was first sent to Camp Hubert, VA for basic training, and then to Officers
Candidate School at Ft. Warren, WY in motor operations. After he
completed OCS, the army recognized his accounting skills and assigned him as a
financial analyst for the Quartermaster Contract Renegotiation Section. He and
Gen spent their war time service first in New York and later in San Francisco
where he was discharged in 1946.
It was during that time that he met Jack Simplot who was
providing dehydrated potatoes and onions to the war effort. This meeting was
the beginning of a long time friendship and business relationship. John was
asked to join the company after the war and moved his wife and first son (Jack)
to Caldwell, ID to an office of 3 men (Jack Simplot, John and the pilot, Grant
Kilbourne). Here he set about helping the Simplot Company grow to what it
is today - working from the ground up in a number of key positions ending his
career as CEO after 34 years and subsequently served for a few years as Vice
Chairman of the Board. He loved his work and the Simplot enterprises. He
made many good friends who worked at Simplot locations throughout the US and
Canada. He genuinely cared about others always providing support and helpful
advice. To him his career was an adventure full of challenges and excitement.
He always was so proud to have played a part of Idaho’s growing economy.
John was an active and respected member of the Boise community
giving of his time and skills. In 1973, he was honored as Idaho
Businessman of the Year by the Idaho State University Delta Upsilon chapter of
Alpha Kappa Psi. He served on the board of directors for the Idaho
Bank and Trust Company and the Idaho Power Company. He also served on the
board of trustees at the St. Luke’s Hospital and Mountain States
Tumor Institute and the boards of Key Bank and Hecla Mining Company.
John was active with the Arid Club and served as Kingfish for a
year. He was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and the Idaho Society of CPA’s earning Idaho CPA certificate #73.
He also served on the boards for the Elk’s Rehabilitation Hospital, the
Idaho Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Idaho Taxpayers Association, BIPAC and the
Federation of Rocky Mountain States. He and Gen were active members in the
First Congregational Church.
John had many fond memories of playing golf as well as
traveling, going on many cruises. Passing through the Panama Canal was
his favorite and John and Gen made frequent trips to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
John loved deep-sea fishing with good friends. In his later years he
enjoyed looking out the back window of the family room and spending time with
his family who visited often.
John is proceeded in death by his wife Gen and brother Otto and
is survived by his children, Jack Dahl and his wife Kathy, of Boise, Catherine
Entsminger and her husband Arlen, of Aiken, South Carolina; Helen Timothy and
her husband Alan, of Littleton, Colorado: and Richard Dahl and his wife
Barbara, of Kailua, Hawaii. In addition, there are eleven grandchildren
and fifteen great-grandchildren. The grandchildren and
great-grandchildren are: John Dahl, wife Eizelle and children Ava, Emma,
Mia, and Nina of New York City; Jenny Dahl and children Ali and Jacqueline of
Boise; Matt Dahl, wife Stephanie and children Jake, Maddi and Charlie of Boise;
Stacy Dahl of Boise; Allison Karl, husband Stephan and child Luca
of Sydney, Australia; Lindsay Entsminger of New York City; Matt
Timothy of Denver, Colorado; Jason Timothy, wife Natalie and children Brayden
and Tyler of Plano, Texas; Steven Dahl of Santa Barbara, California;
Sarah McKeown, husband Morgan and children Jacob, Charlotte, and James of
Irvine, California; and Jane Dahl of Seattle, Washington.
With a deep sense of gratitude the family gives special thanks
to the four ladies who provided care and comfort to John. They are Mary
Murach, Lyn Runyon, Sue Krantz, and Lana Davenport. They cared for him with so
much love and kindness. Special thanks also goes to Dr. Mike Maier and
staff for many years of wonderful medical care.
A private committal service with military honors will be held at
the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. A
memorial celebration to remember both John and Gen will be held at 5:00pm August
14
th
at Hillcrest Country Club.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Dahl, please visit our flower store.
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