Leroy Dale Haverty

Dale Haverty, age 88 of Nebraska City passed away Monday morning, April 27, 2026 at the Ambassador in Nebraska City.

He was born Leroy Dale Haverty, December 4, 1937 in Montevallo, MO, the son of Leroy and Modenia (Brown) Haverty.  

He graduated from Sidney High School, Sidney, IA with the Class of 1955. As a senior in high school he met Anna Pearl Barbour of Tabor, and they were united in marriage on  November 19, 1955 at Cherry Creek, Colorado. To this union four children were born: Linda, Martin, Patrick, and Lora.

Shortly after high school, he entered the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Korea and Castle AFB near Merced, California. He was proud to be selected for the Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal (E.O.D.) (also known as the “bomb squad”). In 1963 he was honorably discharged and moved with his family to Livermore, California, where he was a safety technician at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, a nuclear research site.

The family returned to the Midwest in 1968, choosing Nebraska City as their home, where Dale had once worked as a floor guard at the Sixth Street Roller Rink. In Nebraska City he served as a police officer from 1971 to 1974. He then was the manager of the Feed and Fertilizer division of the Farmers’ Cooperative from 1974-1987, where he wrote a computer program to ensure the most economic and effective use of fertilizer. He went on to own and operate Haverty’s Farm and City Service until 2004, in partnership with his son Pat.  

From his arrival in Nebraska City, Dale was passionate about public service and community organization. He served on the Rescue Squad and Volunteer Fire Department, was active in the Jaycees and Masons, and played key roles in local and state agencies, assisting in the foundation of the Lewis and Clark Visitors’ Center and the Kregel Windmill Museum, among many other projects. After retirement he expanded his volunteer work, tutoring children, supporting organic gardening, and assisting immigrant workers and those facing economic and other hardship in the community. He saw that it would be much easier for those in need to seek support for many services under one roof, so he worked hard to raise funds and draw up the plans for what became The Family Center, now housed in the old Elks building. In 2002 he was recognized for his many contributions to the community by the Nebraska City Chamber of Commerce.

Dale was intellectually curious throughout his life and often achieved self-taught excellence in his fields of interest. He learned computer programming, became a successful roper at regional rodeos, raised cattle and goats, and became a beekeeper. He was a strong advocate for soil conservation and worked to preserve the land that he loved.

He is survived by his wife Anna Haverty of Nebraska City, his children Linda Haverty Rugg  (husband Ulf Olsson) of California, Martin Haverty (Tanja) of Utah and Lora Tomlinson (John) of New Mexico, and his daughter in law Deanna Haverty of Nebraska, his grandchildren Henry Rugg, Chase, Craig and Brent Haverty, Lindsey Becerra, Chelsea Fulliton,  Chloe’ Bowen, Stefan, Sutton and Carlee Tomlinson; 20 great-grandchildren, nieces, cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by son Patrick Haverty, grandson Samuel Tomlinson, brother Dee Haverty, sisters Beryl Haverty, Minnie Knapp and Elburna Nicholas, and his parents.

Services will be held Monday; May 4, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church Nebraska City.

Burial with military honors will be held Monday, May 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at the Tabor Cemetery, Tabor, IA.

The family will greet friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 2026 at Marshall Funeral Chapel in Nebraska City. Masonic Services will be held at 4:00 p.m.

Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church in Nebraska City or the Nebraska City Community Foundation.

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