Joseph Dimmerling was born on September 23, 1914, in Braddock, Pennsylvania. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Saint Cloud on May 2, 1940.[1] After his ordination, Dimmerling served in pastoral assignments in St. Cloud, Breckenridge, Brushvale, Glenwood, Villard, and Little Falls, all in Minnesota. He also served at the seminary at Collegeville, Minnesota.[2]
On September 11, 1969, Pope Paul VI appointed Dimmerling as bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City. He was ordained bishop by Bishop George Speltz on October 30, 1969. Dimmerling established a permanent diaconate program and a lay ministry program and ordained the first Native American deacon in the country.[3]
Dimmerling started offices in the diocese for rural life, stewardship and social concerns. He set up a ministry for people who were separated or divorced, and for widows. He also established the West River Catholic newspaper.[1]
Joseph Dimmerling died on December 13, 1987.[1][3] In November 2018, the Diocese of Saint Cloud announced that it had credible accusations of sexual abuse of a minor against Dimmerling from his tenure as a priest in the diocese.[2][4]
