Dale Blethen

BELGRADE – Dale Blethen, beloved husband of Joan Blethen, went to be with his Lord and Savior early on the morning of July 3, 2025, while cradled in the arms of his wife and surrounded by family, due to complications from chronic pancreatitis. Dale was born Dec. 26, 1950, to Parker Dale Blethen and Bernice Lambert Blethen at their home in Thorndike. He attended Williams High School in Oakland, graduating in 1969. He earned an associate degree in business management from the University of Maine, Bangor. He continued to take classes from various colleges and universities over his lifetime. He even taught linework at KVCC. He made many lifelong friends throughout this journey.

Dale was a very caring Christian man. He would do anything for his family, his church, his coworkers, and his community. When his children and grandchildren wanted to do something special, there was Dad (or “Grampy”) to make sure they got it, from going to Funtown, buying their first car, and playing a sport, to taking many trips to our much loved Moosehead Lake where he was always willing to put a worm on the hook and untangle a fishing line (or hook himself!). He worked extremely hard his entire life to give his family the best in life. If you were his relative, friend, or neighbor all you had to do is ask and he would be there for you.

Dale served as a deacon at the Second Baptist Church of Sidney many times over the years and even taught a Sunday school class for teenagers when no one else was brave enough to answer the multitude of questions that all teenagers have. He belonged to the Masons in Sidney for over 50 years and served as master of the lodge multiple times as well as serving as a grand officer for the state of Maine. He especially loved working on the Masonic Lodge’s Strawberry Festivals every year, and the Bikes for Books program. He became a chief steward of the IBEW Union at Central Maine Power Company, where he worked for over 40 years, and fought many battles for his coworkers. He received an early retirement buyout but continued to work for power company subcontractors until the day before he went into the hospital for the last time. He served in the Sidney Athletic Association and coached many sports, including ones he had never played. His philosophy was that every child should have a chance to play in every game. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader who received the George Meany Award for Excellence in Scouting. In his “spare time” he volunteered for the fire department and helped organize a club hockey league for Messalonskee High School in Oakland which eventually became an official varsity team. One of the greatest honors of his life was being awarded the Spirit of America Award for all his contributions to the Sidney community. It came as a total surprise to him because he was such a humble man.

Dale is survived by his wife of almost 54 years Joan Drummond Blethen of Belgrade; his son Robert Blethen and wife Adriana (originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil) of Willow Spring, North Carolina; his son Chad Blethen of Sidney; six grandchildren, Tait Blethen, a member of the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and his wife Willow Jones Blethen, Robert Blethen and his partner Cadence Maheux of Fairfield, Paola des Rosier and husband Seth of Portland, Gabriela Blethen of Willow Spring, North Carolina, Kyan Blethen of Sidney, and Genesis Blethen of Waterville. He is also survived by his sister, Jeanne Lothrop and her husband David of Cape Cod, Mass.; his brother David Blethen of Sidney; and two special aunts Sheila Bickford and Carolyn Blethen, both of Florida. He has too many surviving cousins to mention here but he loved them all.

He was predeceasd by his parents and a brother George Blethen. 

A time for visitation will be held July 18, 2025, 6-8 p.m., at Wheeler’s Funeral home, 26 Church St., Oakland, Maine, 04963. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 19, 2025 at 11 a.m., at the Second Baptist Church of Sidney, 3022 West River Road, Sidney. A reception will follow at the Blethen Family Camp in Belgrade. Internment will follow at a later date.

Because Dale hated to wear a suit and because it will be hot, please wear cool, comfortable, casual, bright clothing in his honor. The reception will be on the water so please feel free to bring swimming gear. 

Services are under the care of Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church Street, Oakland. An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at http://www.wheelerfh.com.

If anyone feels the need to send flowers, that is ok, but we know he would be pleased to have a donation made in his name to either the Church in Sidney, or Rural Lodge #53, 3000 Middle Road, Sidney, ME, 04330.