David Allen Flanders, 51, St. Onge, died Thursday, June 21, 2013 near Spearfish, SD. Born on the 4th of July 1961 in Lincoln, NE, David was the youngest of 3 children born to Harold and Antje Flanders. He was raised just south of Sioux City, IA in the farming community of Sgt. Bluff. Growing up, David was very active playing baseball, basketball, football, running track, swimming on the swim team, marching in the high school marching band and singing in the choir. He represented the USA in Pole Vault in the Jr. Olympics Competition in Jamaica while in high school. While attending Catholic School, Dave served as an altar boy at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix, IA. Not only did David grow up playing hard, he worked hard as well, spending his summers hoeing beans, detasseling corn, mowing lawns and delivering newspapers. He was born with an exceptional gift of music and 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. David 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. David entered the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from high school and proudly served his country. He was very involved with the Veterans Club and treasured his many friends there. In 1983 he graduated as a commercial diver 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 where he worked for many, 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. David did not survive a motorcycle accident on June 21, 2013. He is preceded to heaven's gates by his father, Harold A. Flanders and is survived by his mother, Antje Flanders-Gray, Rapid City, SD; his older sister, Becci J. Flanders-Paterson (Dr. Colin Paterson), Rapid City, SD; his older brother, Patrick S. (Colleen) Flanders, Houston, TX; nephew, Jason M. Rowe, New York, NY; nieces: Makayla A. (Joshua) Mitzel, Bowdle, SD; Aryn M. Rowe, Rapid City, SD; Madeleine Flanders, Houston, TX; Anna Paterson, Rapid City SD and Kirsten Paterson, Denver, CO; grand-nephew, Cedar M. Mitzel, Bowdle, SD; Uncle Bob & Aunt Alice Flanders, Sioux City, IA: Aunt Marlene & Uncle Doug May, Sioux City, IA; Aunt Joanne Flanders, Sioux City, IA; Uncle Kurt & Aunt Gina Wassner, Augsburg, Germany; Aunt Matilda Wassner, Augsburg, Germany; along with his many cousins and countless friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 am, Friday, July 5, 2013 at Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont, with Rev. Steven Biegler officiating. Inurnment will follow at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Military honors will be conducted by the Sturgis Veteran's 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. 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 South Dakota and their great mission to reach out to youth in need or to the Humane Society of the Black Hills as Dave dearly loved animals.