Obituary: Dahl, Wesley E. “Bing”
Age 93
DAHL,
Wesley E. “Bing”
(Age 93)
Died on March 21, 2016 at the age of 93.
He was born in Berthold, North Dakota in 1923 and lived in Minot until moving to Spokane at the age of 14.
He was one of the most outstanding high school athletes of his era in Spokane.
He was an all-city, first-team basketball star for four consecutive years at North Central, all-city first-team for three years in football and baseball, and was offered a baseball contract by the Spokane Indians while still in high school.
Instead, he attended college and played as a sophomore on the University of Washington basketball team that won the 1943 Pac-8 championship.
He did not participate in the post-season national tournament, instead reporting for active military duty.
Bing entered the Army as a private, served with the U.S. Infantry in Europe for three years and was awarded three Bronze Stars.
After the war he was contacted for a tryout by the head scout of the Chicago Cubs but chose instead to enroll at Washington State College where he met his future wife, Dolores Ann “Lorry” Sauer.
He played varsity basketball and baseball while completing his degree in Education.
After graduation, he married Lorry and began a 37-year career as a teacher, guidance counselor and coach at Colville, Kent Meridian and Evergreen high schools.
He was also an active deacon and elder at John Knox United Presbyterian Church in South Seattle.
In 1961-62, he returned to WSU to earn a Master’s Degree in Counseling.
In 1968 his Evergreen basketball team broke the state tournament total scoring record, taking third overall after losing only one very close game in the semifinals.
He retired in 1987 to spend more time with his family, his church, travelling, writing poetry and to enjoy a range of other active interests like photography, golf, trailering and making jewelry for his children and friends.
In 2014, at 92, he was named Man of the Year at the 62nd Annual Basketball Old-Timers Banquet for his career accomplishments as a coach and player in the state of Washington.
Bing was preceded in death by his father, Carl Ludvig Dahl, his mother, Alice Hazel Brown, and his three brothers: Alvie, Harley and Paul.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lorry Dahl; his children: Eric Dahl (Margaret), Ellie Dahl, LeAnn Eernisse (Doug), Chris Dahl (Hope); seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, 13 nieces and nephews and their children.
A service to celebrate Bing’s life will be held at 2 PM on Wednesday, March 30th at John Knox Church, 109 SW Normandy Road, Seattle, Washington 98166.
For more information about Bing visit www.emmickfunerals.com .