David Allen Flanders 1961 - 2013

FLANDERS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2013 at 11:42:33

Sioux City Journal
30 June 2013

SERGEANT BLUFF | David Allen Flanders, 51, of St. Onge, S.D., formerly of Sergeant Bluff, died Thursday, June 20, 2013, near Spearfish, S.D., from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, July 5, at Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont, S.D., with the Rev. Steven Biegler officiating. Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Friday in Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Military rites will be conducted by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard and the South Dakota Army National Guard. The funeral procession will be escorted by members of the American Legion Riders Black Hills Chapter 9. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Hills Funeral Home in Sturgis. Friends and family may sign his online guest register and offer written condolences at www.blackhillsfuneralhome.com.

Born on the 4th of July, 1961, in Lincoln, Neb., David was the youngest of three children born to Harold and Antje Flanders. He was raised just south of Sioux City, in the farming community of Sergeant Bluff. He was very active growing up playing baseball, basketball, football, running track, swimming on the swim team, high school marching band and sang in the choir. He represented the U.S.A. in pole vault in the Jr. Olympics Competition in Jamaica while in high school. He served as an altar boy at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix, Iowa. Not only did he play hard, he worked hard as well, spending summers hoeing beans, detasseling corn and also mowing lawns.

He was born with an exceptional gift of music. He started his first band while in high school. His talents were mentored and enriched though time spent practicing and playing music with other musicians in Sioux City, especially Bob Miller. He possessed the natural ability to create and compose musical arrangements. His dream was to use his music as a form of counseling, therapy and healing.

He entered the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from high school in 1979 and proudly served his country until 1981. He was very involved with the veterans club and treasured his many friends there. He went to school for and was certified as an underwater welder and welded on off-shore oil rigs. His big heart and caring disposition, which focused on helping others in need, inspired him to go to college and major in psychology and sociology. He graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in psychology and sociology and went to work for the South Dakota Department of Social Services and worked there for many years.

As a Flanders, David inherited the love of animals and the natural world, living close to nature and participating in activities that would get him outside. He enjoyed riding his Harley, restoring cars, going fishing and spending time with his dogs, cats, birds and other pets who shared their lives with him during his lifetime.

He is survived by his mother, Antje Flanders-Gray of Rapid City, S.D.; his older sister, Becci J. Flanders-Paterson (Dr. Colin Paterson) of Rapid City; his older brother, Patrick S. (Colleen) Flanders of Houston, Texas; his nephew, Jason M. Rowe of New York City; his nieces, Makayla A. (Joshua) Mitzel of Bowdle, S.D., Aryn M. Rowe of Rapid City, Madeleine Flanders of Houston, Anna Paterson of Rapid City, and Kirsten Paterson of Denver, Colo.; his grandnephew, Cedar M. Mitzel of Bowdle; his aunt and uncle, Robert and Alice Flanders of Sioux City; his aunt, Marlene May of Sioux City; his aunt, Joanne Flanders of Sioux City; his many cousins; and countless friends.

He was preceded to heaven's gates by his father, Harold A. Flanders.

David's father died when he was a young boy -- that significant emotional event and the subsequent experiences cultivated his life's focus of helping others, especially those less fortunate than himself.

In lieu of flowers, Dave would have appreciated memorials to be directed to the Rainbow Bible Ranch in Sturgis, for their great mission to reach out to youth in need or to the Humane Society of the Black Hills as Dave dearly loved animals.