Dale Menchhofer

Beloved husband and father died 9/7/2023 of Glioblastoma brain cancer. Dale was a software developer, hiker, bicyclist, vegan, community activist, geology/geography enthusiast, woodworker, transit geek and incorrigible punster. He will be much missed.

Dale was born in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, the youngest of three sons of a nurse and a UCC pastor. His family moved often so he was always the new kid in class, always having to figure out how to make friends and navigate a new community, and enjoying new fields and woods to explore. They lived in Spring Green, Wisconsin; Carthage, South Dakota; Richville, New York; Holyrood, Kansas; Milan, Michigan; Chrisney, Indiana; Columbus, Pennsylvania; and Meyersdale, Pennsylvania.

After high school he worked at a plastics factory for a year to earn money for college and to motivate himself to do well there. Attended Oberlin University for 4 years majoring in economics. After working in Oberlin, Ohio for a few years, Dale moved to Seattle because he was looking for a place with great opportunities for hiking. Memorable adventures included hiking in the Enchantments and up Mt St Helens, bicycling the STP, snowshoeing during a full moon, a family trip to India. Dale had worked as a software developer for Grange Insurance for the past 15 years and made many friends there. Dale loved chatting with old friends, new acquaintances and random strangers.

Active member of Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC, subsequently All Pilgrims Christian Church, singing in the church choir and volunteering at the Community Lunch held there. He practiced radical welcoming and liked to say, “God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it.”

Survived by wife, Martha Hunting, daughters Madrona Menchhofer and Luia Menchhofer, brothers Rev. Earl Menchhofer (Rev. Pamela Smith) and Joe Menchhofer (Linda Lockaby), and many other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by parents Rev. J. David Menchhofer and Edna Beyer Menchhofer. Dale and his mother died 12 days apart.

In memory of Dale, please consider a donation to Community Lunch on Capitol Hill, do a kind deed for someone, or reach out to make a new friend.