Tony was born on a beautiful Easter morning, April 5, 1953 to parents, Arnold and Adeline (Hansen) Dige of Sidney. He was the third child born in a farm family that eventually grew to six children. Tony attended local schools and upon graduation in 1972, joined the U.S. Navy. After having served in the Pacific, with memorable visits to Japan and New Zealand, he was honorably discharged in 1976. Tony went on to attend Hennepin Vo-Tech School in Bloomington, MN, earning his Boiler’s License.
Tony returned to Sidney and served as the delivery driver for the Sidney Cleaners and later the Sidney Herald. He always had a joke to share at each stop on his route, winning life-long friendships. Tony was also involved on the family’s sugar beet farm, driving truck at harvest.
Tony was an avid reader and had incredible memory recall. From a young age, he excelled at games of strategy such as chess, checkers and family favorite, Twixt. He taught his siblings the finer points of these games but he won nearly every match. Tony especially looked forward to attending Dige family reunions where he could visit with more than one hundred extended family members, enjoy favorite Danish foods and win the chess title in the “Dige Olympics”.
For much of his adulthood, Tony suffered from bipolar disorder, a mental health condition. The Richland County Mental Health staff and clients became a second family for him, providing care, meals and support for many years for which we are grateful. The Dige family is most appreciative of the support and friendship given by Mrs. Nancy Trudell.
His family and friends are comforted by the fact that Tony knew his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and he is now made perfect in Heaven. Tony passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, October 6, 2017 from an apparent heart attack.
Tony is survived by his parents, Arnold and Adeline; his brother Russell (Janice) Dige, Sidney, MT; sisters, Lynn Stegmaier, Northfield, MN, Pat (Dale) Powell, Scranton, ND, Marilyn (Steve) Pust, Savage, MT and Becky (Dave) Reidle, Sidney, MT; nieces and nephews, Shirley Turner, Paul and Amanda Dige, Jan, Robyn and Katie Stegmaier, Christy, Mark and Jonathan Powell, Trevor and Erick Pust, Shelby and Shanyn Reidle.
Tony was preceded in death by his grandparents, Otto and Emma Dige, Frederick and Johanna Hansen; and brother-in-law, Robert Stegmaier.

Memorial Contribution