Dale passed away peacefully on June 2, 2025, surrounded by his family at his mountain home near Del Norte, Colo.
He was born in St. Louis to Irma and Herb Berkbigler, the sixth of nine children.
The third son to attend St. Louis University High School, a Jesuit learning institution, he made many lifelong friends and learned lifelong lessons. While there, he joined the wrestling team for four years and was the lead singer in a rock ‘n’ roll band, The Malibus, winning several area contests.
He attended college at St. Louis University in the pre-med program, and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, again making more lifelong friends. Motorcycles and skydiving became summer pastimes.
Dale was the last person admitted to his Medical School class at the University of Missouri, Columbia. He excelled in both coursework and patient work, graduating at the top of his class and being inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society. More lifelong friends were made and it was there he met Janie, his future wife of 49 years.
A required rural medicine experience landed him in Osceola, Missouri, where he discovered the rewards of small-town medical practice. He returned there on his free blocks gaining much medical experience.
He began his Internal Medicine Residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, but after his first year, he took a sabbatical to explore rural medicine further, spending a year in Del Norte, Colorado, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. That affirmed his calling and he returned to his Residency with a clear focus on just what additional areas he needed to supplement to best serve his rural community. He was named Chief Resident in his last year at St. Luke’s and, after completing his training and passing his Internal Medicine Boards, returned to Del Norte.
Back in Colorado, he used the skills and procedures taught during his residency in his outpatient clinic practice and at the hospital, where he cared for patients in the Emergency Department, the Operating Room as assistant surgeon, the Intensive Care Unit, and on the inpatient floor.
His two children, Jennifer and Jonathan, were born in that hospital and enjoyed their early years in the family’s home on Pinos Creek.
When not taking care of patients, he spent time skiing, dirt bike riding, and climbing all 54 of Colorado’s “fourteeners.”
After a dozen years he undertook another adventure with a start-up healthcare company called QualMed, “the anti-managed care company,” which was owned and managed by physicians. As Chief Medical Officer, Executive Vice President, and Board Vice Chairman, he helped grow the company from 5,000 to over 3 million members. He was directly involved in all 14 of QualMed’s acquisitions, the successful conversion to a publicly traded company, and, in addition to his Internal Medicine Board certification, was double boarded as a Diplomate of Medical Management.
He retired a decade later after the company moved to California and spent the first six months of his retirement obtaining his private pilot license and his instrument rating. Over the ensuing 25 years, he and his family would enjoy flying his airplanes around the country.
Following his brief retirement, Dale returned to practice in Del Norte, where the previously shuttered hospital had reopened. His friend, Dr. Norman Haug, had not only managed to resume emergency, hospital, and outpatient care, but had also secured funding to build a modern, much-needed new hospital and clinic. Dale assisted by resuming his hospital and clinic practice as well as serving on the hospital board for the next 22 years, finally retiring in 2022. He continued to spend time in both Del Norte and Colorado Springs with family and friends.
The Berkbiglers were blessed to have their children remain close in their lives, enjoying many days and evenings together. They traveled as a family to Europe, both coasts of Mexico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, and most recently to several wonderful vacation spots in Central America. Having them close by was a great comfort.
Dale is survived by his wife Janie; his daughter Jennifer; and his son, Jonathan; as well as brothers Don (Peggy), Bill (Suzie), and Gary, and sisters Linda (Jim), Sherri (Jim), and Joyce (Dan).
A celebration of life will be held in Del Norte, Colo, as well as in St. Louis, Mo.
Rogers Family Mortuary is in care of the arrangements. To leave online condolences, tributes and words of comfort please visit www.RogersFunerals.com.
