Dale C. Belieu

Dale Clifton Belieu passed away Thursday, July 4, 2024, two days shy of his 95th birthday, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines.

Dale was born July 6, 1929, the year the Great Depression began, in Des Moines, Iowa to Harry and Viola (Adair) Belieu. He would talk about selling donuts as a boy that his mother made to the WPA workers. Dale lost his little sister, Darlene to polio the year before the vaccine was invented. Her loss stayed with him throughout his life.

Growing up during the 1930s, Dale knew how to stretch a dollar, and sometimes to a fault. He was always trying to find a way around the system. To him, rules were meant to be broken. Dale was a hardworking guy. He met his wife, Ilene, while pumping gas for a gas station. He was a delivery driver for Pepsi. He worked in the John Deere factory in Ankeny. He worked for the city of Des Moines service garage. At 27, he became a Municipal Court Bailiff. He invested in rental properties and was able to retire after 20 years as a Bailiff, but he did not slow down. He began vacationing in Florida but spent some of his vacation time doing paid handyman work. Later, Dale and Ilene opened their own little ice cream and candy store, Ilene's Sweet Shop on the south side of Des Moines. Ilene was the love of his life. They were married for 67 years before she passed in 2015.

When Dale would go to Florida for the winter, he would make a long distance call home to check in, but the family knew to decline the call. It was his signal that he and his wife, Ilene got there safe, but then the family wouldn’t be charged for the call. Dale’s idea, of course. There are so many more examples, some too embarrassing to share, because Dale always had a new scheme brewing. He lived for it.

The family meals he and his wife prepared were simple. Dale came from an era when eating local and clean came naturally. And dinner was always at 5:00 p.m. Lots of great family meals were held at Dale and Ilene’s - beef stews, dumplings, and bacon spaghetti to name a few favorites. Dale helped many of his kids and grandkids get started in life by helping them get their first home. He was always a phone call away if you needed anything. He deeply loved his family.

Dale enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. You would always find him with a Coke in his hand. All the grandkids learned quick not to ask for a drink of it, as there was bourbon in it. They kids would say, “Grandpa’s pop is yucky!”

Dale was a giving person. During his Ilene’s Sweet Shop years, he had an extra freezer for any ice cream “mistakes”, less than perfect cones or orders that were made wrong, and he handed them out to kids and adults who didn’t have any money.

He is survived by his daughters, Mary Belieu and Vicky Oliver, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other extended family and friends.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Viola Belieu; wife, Ilene Belieu; son, Dale Belieu, Jr.; daughter, Linda Simmons; infant children, Leo and Diana; brothers, Harold Belieu, Harry Belieu, Robert Belieu, and John Belieu; sister, Darlene Belieu; and his beloved dog, Little Girl.

Services will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m., followed by funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Dale and Ilene will be laid to rest together at Avon Cemetery after the funeral.

In honor of Dale, contributions may be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice.

"A.M.F. (Adios My Friends)" ;)

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