Dale Clinger Johnson, age 75, of Lakeview, passed away, surrounded by his family, on February 24, 2023, in Provo, Utah from complications following heart surgery. Dale was born on November 22, 1947, in Provo, Utah, to Karl William and Cleo (Clinger) Johnson, and raised in Lakeview, a small farming community where it seemed everyone was related. Dale has four siblings: Wallace, Martell, Nancy, and Philip.

Dale and Philip were best friends, doing everything together from throwing cow pies, still wet in the middle, over the fence at passing cars, to building a two-story treehouse. Relatives and ward members loved hearing them sing duets at family gatherings and reunions, mission farewells and home comings, church functions and funerals.

As a boy, Dale raised roller pigeons. He named each one and kept their genealogical records. He was naturally mechanically inclined and able to fix cars and rebuild engines. He liked to work with his hands and figure things out. As a teenager, Dale built a dune buggy, the "Coyote," and spent countless hours with his brothers and friends in the West Desert, camping, rabbit hunting, catching coyotes and making Western movies. He later shared his love of the desert with his wife and children.

After graduating from Orem High School, Dale served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1966 to 1969 in the São Paulo Brazil mission.

Dale married Cheryl Baker on August 9, 1973, in the Salt Lake City Temple, where they were sealed for time and eternity. Dale and Cheryl made their first home in Provo. In 1980, they moved into their home on Geneva Road in Lakeview where they raised their children.

Dale joined the Army National Guard in 1970 and served for eight years. He graduated from Brigham Young University in December 1973 with a bachelor's degree in Business Management. Dale started his career in 1974 as a real estate agent and broker with Taylor National Realty. In 1981, Taylor National merged with Mountainland Realty, where he spent the rest of his career. He served as a director and president of the Utah County Board of Realtors and as a board director of the Wasatch Front Regional MLS. Dale was well-respected in the real estate community, known for being thorough, knowledgeable and impeccably honest. His uncle once said, "Dale will never make it in real estate. He's too honest." Young realtors he mentored often asked what advice he'd give them as they started their careers. He'd tell them, "Spend more time with your family."

Dale loved to spend time with his immediate and extended family. His favorite vacations were the annual reunions in Aberdeen, ID and Bear Lake, and his Christmas trip to Mazatlán. The beaches of Mazatlán were his "happy place."

He was a great poet, writer and storyteller. He told his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews original, impromptu stories of Danny Meadow Mouse and his adventures on the farm. Dale was a natural storyteller, incorporating those in his audience into his stories. Dale drew birth announcements for each of his kids. He kept detailed journals, leaving behind his written legacy.

Dale was a master penny-pincher. He would educate himself before making a large purchase, like a pair of shoes, to ensure be got the best bang for his buck, and didn't rush into a purchase, taking time to sleep on it first. He had a knack for improvising and squeezing out every drop of function until things had no value, before he'd resort to buying a new one. Yet, if one of his kids had a need, he did everything he could to provide.

Dale's greatest love is his wife, whom he cherished. He encouraged her to have and follow her dreams, and to take opportunities to grow her wings and fly. He treated her with dignity and respect and taught his sons to do the same.

Dale lived on the family farm and in the Lakeview Ward virtually his entire life. Dale served on the Stake High Council, assigned to the Church Welfare Farm in West Mountain. He also served 7 years as the bishop of the Lakeview First Ward, as well as various other ward and stake callings. His favorite Church calling was serving as a missionary with his wife. Dale and Cheryl served as Member and Leader Support missionaries for The Church in the Florida Orlando Mission from 2014-2016. On December 6, 2022, Dale and Cheryl returned from serving a second mission in Sacramento, California.

Dale is survived by his wife of nearly fifty years, Cheryl Baker Johnson; his children: Natalie Johnson, Matthew (Leah) Johnson , Michelle (Matthew) Haswell, Jill (Trever) Griffiths, Jeneé (Patrick) Fossat, Daniel (Lynley) Johnson, and Liesel (James) Moffitt; and 26 grandchildren, one of whom is currently serving a full-time mission in the Oklahoma City Mission.

Dale is also survived by all four of his siblings. Dale was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Afton Lindsay Moffitt (Liesel & James).

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 11a.m. at the Lakeview Stake Center located at 450 West 1800 South in Orem. A viewing will be held at the same location, Tuesday, February 28, 2023 from 6 to 8 p.m., and Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 9:30 to 10:30a.m. Burial will be in the Provo City Cemetery.