Dale Frederick Burnham was born July 10, 1941 in Bremerton, WA to F. Mark Burnham and Nettie Burnham.

Dale spent most of his youth in Meridian, Id. along with his parents and younger brother Ron.  He graduated from Meridian High School in 1959 and later from Boise Junior College in 1962.  He married Linda Stewart in 1969. In the mid seventies, while continuing to work as an engineer, Dale began his own machinist business in their Oregon home, where Linda was always a willing helper. Being a gifted engineer and machinist he successfully combined the two when they moved to Washington. He also enjoyed their Samoyed dogs, traveling with his wife, reading, research, music (he played guitar), photography, and his many other friendships. In January of 1999, Dale was stricken with grief at the passing of his wife Linda, but was comforted by his close friends Larry and Joyce Reich, his church family, and many others.