Dale Lee Balch Jr, 52, or Jr to many and ya ya to his grandbabies passed away April 13, 2021 in Nampa, Idaho, along with his dog and best friend Munk-E, 13, after a four and a half year battle of cancer.

Jr was born in Seattle, Wash. on Nov. 7, 1968 to Dale Sr and Ada Mae Spears Balch. He graduated from Eagle Point High School in 1987 and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Lincoln as a fire fighter.

In 1986 he meet what would be his wife Christina McHenry through mutual friends. Then in 1993 they were married in Phoenix, Ore. at her parents home.

Jr enjoyed playing Dungeon and Dragons and never let his wife forget how she love the game too. He loved Star Wars and Star Trek and studying about Bigfoot and all things paranormal and things that made you think. He was a die hard Seattle Seahawks fan. He loved our dog Munk-E very much. He had an opinion about everything. He loved food and was always up for trying new foods. He loved to learn and challenged our daughter and granddaughter to find out something he didn’t know and come to him with it.

Jr was proceeded in death by his parents, Dale Sr and Ada; and his father in law, Stephen Gadway; as well as many other family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Christina Balch, 49; their daughter, Jenipher Newkirk, 27, and her husband, Joshua Newkirk, 28, and their children, Morgana, 7, and Rune, 1; his oldest daughter, Karissa Renee Martin, 28, and her children, Ricky, 12, Mason, 10, Alexander, 6, and Syrenity, 3; his mother in law, DeLores Gadway Ivey; father in law, Edward McHenry; brother in law, Curtis Holweg; and sisters in law, Cheryl Holweg and Jessica Leonard; and his best friend, Marvin Rice.

His family will be have a celebration of life at the Burns Christian Church Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 3 p.m. with a gathering to follow.