Delon Dalke

Delon D. Dalke, 87, of Yuma, Arizona, passed away at his home on May 8, 2025.

Delon was born July 1, 1937, in American Falls, Idaho, to Ferdinand and Helen (Brucks) Dalke. Delon’s first job was working on his father’s family farm in Aberdeen, Idaho. At the time he did not appreciate the farm but in later years realized it was a great way to grow up with hard work, discipline and honest values. He graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1955. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow and obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering in1959.

His distinguished career in engineering began at Autonetics (a division of North American Aviation) then Hughes Aircraft Company in Los Angeles where he designed equipment to test the Minuteman Missile inertial guidance system and other fascinating projects. Delon and his family moved near Ogden, UT, where he then worked at Hill Air Force Base as project engineer on the newly developed smart bombs. He and his family then moved to Yuma, AZ, where he culminated his career at the Yuma Proving Ground (Army). He was involved in calibration automation then advanced to shock and vibration analysis of Army materiel. His most significant contribution was being selected to represent the US Army on a NATO committee to develop international testing procedures for shock and vibration testing and analysis. After retirement, he maintained close contact with his NATO counterparts traveling to Europe once a year to maintain those friendships and see fascinating places. In his work, he was persistent and technically very thorough.

Beyond his professional life, Delon was a man of diverse interests and talents. In high school, he entered the General Motors Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild where he earned four state awards for precision scale model cars. He won first place in the state of Idaho during one year of this effort. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. In the 1970s, he became an avid cyclist, participating in groups who rode across both the US and Canada, and continued cycling for daily exercise for most of his life. Delon then became an avid walker and his willingness to stop, and chat endeared him to those in his community. Delon was also an avid traveler exploring not only the U.S. but Europe as well by trains, automobiles, and planes with stops to family and friends along the way.

He was formerly married to Marcella Heinz, whom he wed in Los Angeles, CA, in 1963. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his two daughters Susan Gower (Chuck) Usk, WA, and Lisa Thomas (Lenard) Azle, TX. He also leaves behind one grand-son Tyler White (Jessica) Orangevale, CA, and two grand-daughters Morgan Cranfill (Brian) Fort Worth, TX, and Forrest Hunt of Henderson, TX, and eight great-grandchildren. He is survived by two sisters Karen Dirks (Joel Moss) Fort Collins, CO, and Nancy Clark (Greg) Prescott, AZ, and two nephews Geffrey Clark (Nermine) Mission Viejo, CA, and Grier Clark (Erin) Wheaton, IL, and two great-nieces and two great-nephews. Delon is predeceased by many uncles and aunts. He is survived by two Dalke aunts--Linda Claassen (99), Grants Pass, OR, and Ruth Eden (97), Salt Lake City, UT, and many cousins.

Delon will be interred in the family plot at Homestead Cemetery in Aberdeen, Idaho. Family and friends are invited to visit DavisRoseMortuary.com to order flowers, or to share condolences, memories, and photos.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Delon can be made to Amberly’s Place Family Advocacy Center at Aberlysplace.com, continuing the legacy of giving that he established.