Ivan "Dale" Denniston

Ivan “Dale” Denniston, 88, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Thursday, June 10, 2021, at AdventHealth Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Dale was born August 31, 1932, in Codel of Rooks County, Kansas, the youngest of six children of Arthur Andrew and Minnie Elsie (Brown) Denniston. The family lived in several different parts of Kansas and in Missouri for a short time. Dale attended different rural elementary schools as the family moved around and ended his schooling at Appanoose High School in Franklin County, Kansas. On September 6, 1953, Dale was united in marriage to Mary Mae Hargrove in Ottawa, Kansas. Dale and Mary met through mutual friends Kenneth and Carolyn (Gorton) Elder, with whom they remained lifelong friends. In his early years, Dale worked construction in Nebraska, Montana, and locally for Harry Henry Construction Company. His work on the construction of Hungry Horse Dam in Montana near Glacier National Park provided lasting memories of going down a rope ladder over the front of the dam – but only ONCE! He was employed by Scott’s Drive-Inn restaurant in Ottawa, KS and worked several years in the oil fields of Franklin County and Miami County, KS with his father-in-law Ary Harold Hargrove. He owned Dale’s Drive-Inn restaurant in Ottawa from 1957 to 1964. Dale started doing auto body work at shops in the Lawrence, Kansas City, and Ottawa areas. He was employed by Bob White Motors body shop on North Main Street in Ottawa for several years. In 1976, he started Dale’s Body Shop in Ottawa and operated the business until he retired in January of 1998, having established a reputation for quality work and reliable service. Dale enjoyed wood working, restoring antique cars and tractors, square dancing, and traveling the USA. His work with wood ranged from beautiful and intricate Intarsia creations to sturdy furniture cabinets for the home. After retirement, Dale and Mary became active in the Power of the Past Antique Engine & Tractor Association, sharing Dale’s experience with restoration of an antique John Deere and an unusual white Farmall tractor. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Brenda Ball; and five siblings, Agatha Bremer, Percy Denniston, Joyce Wade, Don Denniston, and Keith Denniston. Survivors include his wife Mary Denniston of the home; sons, Terry (Marsha) Denniston of Renner, SD, and Russell Denniston of Ottawa, KS; son-in-law Rod Ball of Rantoul, KS; six grandchildren, Mark (April) Ball of Rantoul, KS, Melissa Ball (Steve) St. John of Ottawa, KS, Stephanie Denniston (Britt) Nelson of Lakeville, MN, Carey (Jason Cornett) Denniston of Carthage, MO, Andrea (Seth Guzovsky) Denniston of Floyd, VA, and Trisha (Kyle Johnson) Denniston of Garretson, SD; eleven great-grandchildren, one great-granddaughter on the way; and his beloved wiener dog, Daisy. The family suggests memorial contributions to Power of the Past Antique Engine and Tractor Assn. c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.