Potton, Lt. Col. Dale H.Lt. Col. Dale H. Potton, age 77, of Schofield, Wis., died Sunday, March 5, 2017 at his home in Schofield. Dale was born on May 16, 1939 in Avalon, Wisconsin. He was the son of Howard W. and Martha E. Potton.Dale was a 1957 graduate of Clinton High School and attended University of Wisconsin at Lacrosse. After his freshman year, Dale applied and was accepted into the Air Force Navigator Program, commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force and designated Radar/Navigator in the Strategic Air Command. Dale then went back to Wisconsin and married his high school sweetheart Judith Schoenfeld of Clinton.Dale served 6 years in SAC (Strategic Air Command) as a B-52 Radar Bombardier/Navigator before transitioning to pilot training. After pilot training and earning his Air Force Wings, Dale was a T-37 instructor at Valdosta, Georgia. Finishing his instructor's tour, Dale transitioned to the A-1 Sky Raider, a close ground support single engine bomber and spent a year in Vietnam flying "Hobo, Firefly and Sandy" missions in support of U.S. and South Vietnamese ground forces. Dale's aircraft was shot down on one of his risky missions; he was able to eject at low altitude, escape and evade the enemy and was picked up by an Army helicopter and rescued.After Vietnam, Dale instructed in the T-38 and then moved his family to Colorado Springs where he took on the responsibilities of operations officer managing scheduling and instructing academy cadets. Dale retired from active duty Air Force in 1979. He and his wife Judy moved their family eleven times while in the service and three times settling into civilian life after their 20 years of active duty.Dale is survived by children, Jeffrey (Corrine) Potton, Marquette, MI and Craig Potton (Rob Boerger), Marysville, OH; grandchildren, Brittany and Brendan Potton; brothers, William (Thelma) Potton, Westland, MI, Larry (Linda) Potton, River Falls, WI, and sister Ruth (Dan) Clark, Neillsville, WI. Dale was preceded in death by his lovely wife of 54 years Judith, his dear daughter Debbie, and his parents and grandparents.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, March 10, 2017 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 6205 Alderson St, Weston. Pastor Raymond Connor will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:30 am until the time of services on Friday at the church. Burial will take place at Clinton Cemetery, Clinton, WI at 4:00 pm following services.Online condolences may be given at www.brainardfuneral.com