+ Dale J. Livdahl +

Funeral Sermon for Dale Livdahl

Text: Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today we gather in the shadow of a very honest reality.

Death.

Even when someone lives ninety-four years — which is a remarkable life — death still feels heavy. It still feels unnatural. It still hurts.

And Scripture does not try to soften that truth.

In fact, one of the verses Dale chose for this day speaks about it directly:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Those words tell us why death exists.

Death is not simply biology. Nor is it aging. Or the passage of time.

Death is the consequence of sin.

And that means this moment is not only about Dale.

It is about every one of us.

Because every one of us stands under that same reality.

It is my prayer that today we all would find comfort and certainty in the gift of eternal life God gives through Jesus Christ.

The Wages We Earn

Scripture uses a striking word: wages.

Wages are what you earn. What you deserve. What you are owed.

Sin earns death.

And that applies to all people.

No one escapes that truth.

Not the weak. Not the strong. Not the poor. Not the brilliant.

And Dale was brilliant.

He graduated as valedictorian from Williston High School and then Magna Cum Laude from Concordia College.

It was said he could have gone anywhere and done anything.  But what stands out even more than his intelligence was his character.

He chose to come home.

He returned to Williston to help his family and remain close to those he loved. That decision reveals something profound — humility, loyalty, and love.

He worked faithfully for decades in the banking community, serving many people with integrity. 

He was deeply involved in church life alongside his wife Eileen — serving others, bringing Holy Communion to those who were homebound, volunteering at church dinners, quietly helping in countless ways. 

That kind of service does not draw headlines.

But it reflects a heart shaped by faith.

People describe Dale with a word that feels almost old-fashioned by today’s standards:

A gentleman.

Someone who would say, “I wish the best for you and your family.”

That was Dale.

Kindness expressed in simple words. Respect expressed in everyday life.

But even a life marked by kindness and faithfulness cannot overcome the reality of Romans 6:23:

“The wages of sin is death.”

Because none of us can earn our way out of sin.

The Gift We Cannot Earn

But the good news is the verse doesn’t end there.

And that is the most important part.

“But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Notice the contrast.

Wages — earned. Gift — given.

Death is earned. Life is given.

And this is where Dale’s life actually helps us understand the Gospel more clearly.

Dale’s intelligence was remarkable.

But eternal life does not come through intelligence.

It does not come through accomplishments.

It does not come through long life.

It comes as a gift.

That is exactly what Romans 6:23 is telling us:

“The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And Scripture explains that gift beautifully in another verse Dale chose for this day:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son…”

John 3:16 may be the most familiar verse in the Bible.

But it is also the most powerful.

God loved. God gave. God saved.

Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live. Jesus died the death we deserved. Jesus rose again to destroy death itself.

And because He lives —

Dale lives.

Not in memory only. Not in sentiment. But in reality.

Jesus says:

“Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

That promise belongs to Dale.

And it belongs to everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

The Shepherd Leads Home

And this is exactly what God has done for Dale.

He lived with gratitude.

Bob told me that Dale was always thankful for what he had and felt blessed by the life he shared with Eileen and the friendships in this community. 

That gratitude flowed from faith.

And today, the Good Shepherd has brought him home.

Home where sin is gone. Home where weakness is gone. Home where death is gone. Home where Christ reigns.

And we can only imagine the reunion he is enjoying as well — including with his beloved brother Warren, whose loss in World War II shaped Dale deeply throughout his life. 

The Shepherd—Who is spoken of in the 23rd Psalm—kept Dale through ninety-four years has now completed His promise.

Comfort for Us Today

We still grieve.

Grief is real.

Love always grieves when separation comes.

But Christian grief is different from hopeless grief.

Because Romans 6:23 does not end with death.

It ends with life.

“The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That promise belongs to Dale.

And it belongs to you who believe in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Because eternal life is not a reward for the perfect.

It is a gift for the forgiven.

Final Assurance

So today we say with confidence:

The wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dale received that gift.

And because Jesus lives —

Dale lives.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.