Dale Tieden attended grades one through eight in a country school in Cox Creek Township. He graduated from Central Public Schools in 1939 and from Elkader Junior College in 1941. He attended the State University of Iowa for one year and then returned to farming. Mr. Tieden was active in 4-H and participated in the National Dairy Judging Contest at the San Francisco World Fair in 1940.

Dale went on to serve as an Iowa State Senator. In the State Senate, Mr. Tieden served on many committees. He was the chairman of the Natural Resources Appropriation Committee, served on the Natural Resources Committee, and was the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee. He was a member of the Administrative Rules Committee. Dale was also one of the two Senate appointees to the Medical Assistance Advisory Council which dealt with all state Title XIX programs.