David Joshua Clayton, age 3, was called home to the Lord Jesus on October 12, 2026 outside of Kimball, South Dakota. He was born on August 31, 2023 in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Sweet David was the happiest little boy. As a baby, he was very content and always had a smile on his face. As he grew older, his parents taught him about the importance of having a happy heart in King Jesus. Whenever he was tempted to fuss or whine, he would say, "No fussin." He was a very verbal child and loved to share what was in his heart. He would tell his mom and dad and grandparents he had a happy heart. He would say, "I'm happy in Jesus."

He had strong faith in Jesus Christ from a very young age. His parents sought to share the gospel with him throughout the day, every day. When he got disciplined, he knew that it was for his good. His daddy would ask him, "Now, David, why do I spank you?" And David would respond saying, "Because you love me." After being disciplined, joyful fellowship was restored between him and the family. He would tell his parents that Jesus died on the cross for his sins and that he is alive again. He recognized the gospel being preached by his daddy on Sunday mornings. His parents were teaching him how to worship God on Sundays with his people and he would drum during the singing portion of the service and draw while listening to daddy preach. Whenever Stephen would share the gospel, David would say, "Mama, Jesus died. Now he's alive." Sometimes when his mama was praying in the mornings and she would be crying, David would proclaim the good news of Jesus to her saying, "It's okay, Mama. Don't be sad. Jesus died." He knew the gospel, believed it with his whole heart, and joyfully proclaimed it to those around him.

The Lord blessed him with a very gifted mind. He was so smart. By the time he turned two, he knew the entire alphabet. He loved to practice making the sounds of all the letters and identifying them in books. He learned his letters, colors, shapes, and numbers extremely fast. He loved learning about God and the world he had made. When going for walks outside, he would ask his mama and daddy about bugs and birds and trees and fire hydrants and cars. David loved to say, "Mama, let's talk about cars." He also loved to ask his parents what their favorite color was. He would ask what his baby brother John's favorite color was and then he would answer for John. By the time he was three, David and mama had started homeschooling. He loved the classical christian curriculum that they used. Every morning he would wake up and ask to do school. Even on Saturdays, David would ask his mama to do school with him and she would explain that it was the weekend but that did not really matter to him. He loved learning and reading. David read countless books. He loved to go to the library and get lots of new books. He would sit on the livingroom floor for an hour just looking at books and reading them with mama and daddy. David was a very gifted reader. By the time he was three, his mama was teaching him different phonograms and he was reading three letter words all by himself. His parents sought to instill a love of reading into him at a young age because they wanted him to one day read the Bible, God's word, for himself.

David had the biggest smile and a great sense of humor. He was silly like his daddy. He was also musically gifted like his parents. He loved music. He would bring his mama and daddy his little hymn board book and ask them to sing to him. He learned many hymns including Holy, Holy, Holy, Be Thou My Vision, How Firm A Foundation, Jesus Loves Me and his favorite song of all, the Doxology. Besides singing, he also loved to listen to his daddy play the trombone and he loved to plunk the keys on the piano with his mama. Following in his parents' footsteps, David was a gifted musician, having an amazing sense of musical rhythm. Everything was a drum to him, and he loved his little drum set at his "Cookie's" house in Kingsport, Tennessee.

David loved food just like his daddy. He always wanted to have another snacky. One of his favorite meals was Daddy dinner night on Sunday evenings when Stephen would make spaghetti and Texas toast for the whole family. It was a weekly joyful feast! He also loved getting a treat each evening after family worship time. He described family worship, as taught by his daddy, as "Read, sing, pray, and be all done!" David loved listening to his daddy read the Scriptures and pray to God; he also loved singing the family hymn of the week joyfully and loudly in his sweet toddler voice. He always asked for a treat or a "catecookie" after doing catechism book with his parents. He loved answering all of the questions his daddy asked him about God and the world. By God's grace, he had memorized six whole verses about the truths of Jesus and the gospel.

Those left to cherish David's memory are: his mother, Katie Jayne Clayton, his brothers John Stephen (1) and Daniel Fletcher (due December 28), all of Monticello, MN; his grandparents Dan "Donie" and Angie "Gigi" O'Shea, "Uncle Bubs" Aidan O'Shea (and his fiancee Kaya Foote), and his great grandparents, Dale "Papa" and Jayne "Nana" Reid, all of Spearfish, SD; his grandmother Jennifer "Cookie" Fletcher, Kingsport, TN; his grandfather Craig Clayton, Colorado Springs, CO; Uncle Rick (and his wife Aunt Cera and their son James), Winter Park, FL; Auntie Spencie (and her partner John McHale), Vicenza, Italy; along with great aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Our sweet baby boy was a wonderful son, big brother to his brother John, and grandson and nephew. He will be missed immeasurably but we take comfort knowing that he is with his daddy in heaven, rejoicing and worshipping in the presence of his God and Savior Jesus Christ.

In lieu of flowers, donations to honor the life of David may be made to Bethlehem College and Seminary of Minneapolis, MN, DesiringGod of Minneapolis, MN, and CSU Schwob School of Music of Columbus, GA.

Friends and family will gather for a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026 at The North Church in Mounds View, Minnesota. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Roberts Family Funerals is caring for the Minnesota arrangements.