David Brown, Jr. passed away in February 2011 while in Yuma, AZ.

Dave was born to Marie and David Brown, Sr., in September 1924. The family moved from Fort Collins, CO, to Fruitdale, SD, when he was a toddler and eventually settled in Vale, SD, where he spent his high school years.

In the late 1940's, Dave started working in Sturgis, SD, for Tri-State Milling Company. He courted Dorothea Wildberger and they were married in June 1950. After their marriage, Dave and Dorothea relocated to Oelrichs, SD, where he worked as the manager of the Tri-State Milling Company/Hubbard Milling Company grain elevator until a job transfer in 1971 moved the family to Chadron, NE.

Dave made a career change to become a sales representative selling agricultural products and chemicals. His territory included several states and he enjoyed being on the road' and meeting people.

Dave and Dorothea moved home' to Sturgis, SD, to be near family during Dorothea's illness and subsequent death in 1989. Dave drove school buses for Sturgis Bus Company until his retirement in 2010. He especially enjoyed the tour groups he met while driving charter buses.

Dave and Lois Putnam were united as partners for life' in Sturgis, SD, in November 2007. Winters were spent in their RV at Sundance RV Park in Yuma, AZ. There they enjoyed card games, potluck dinners, and happy hours with friends in the Foot Hills. In Arizona, Dave was known only as Captain' or Cappie' because of his signature white sailor hat.

Throughout his life, Dave enjoyed hunting in the Black Hills and his favorite hobby was fishing. There weren't many fish that got away but Dave always had a great fish story.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothea; and two brothers, Harold (wife, Fern) and Jake.

He leaves behind children, Peggy Brown and her partner, Raymond Michaud, of Solon, OH, and Steven Brown and his wife, Charmaine Brown, of Monmouth, ME; grandchildren, Caleb Brown of Fort Collins, CO, and Tyler Brown of Monmouth, ME; and life partner, Lois Putnam of Oelrichs, SD. He leaves behind siblings, John (wife, Betty) of Belle Fouche, SD, Eleanora Miller (husband, Ernie) of Sturgis, SD, Richard (wife, Marge) of Eagle Grove, IA, Martha McGuire (husband, Don, deceased) of Anaheim, CA, Betty Yeoman (husband, John) of Lakewood, CA, Dorothy McGuire (husband Jim, deceased) of Reno, NV, and George (wife, Mary) of Sparks, NV; and sister-in-law, Fern Brown of Lincoln, NE.

A remembrance of Dave's life will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, March 18th at the School Gymnasium in Oelrichs, SD. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at First United Methodist Church, Sturgis, SD, with Pastor Gordon Higgins officiating. Inurnment follows at the Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

The family requests memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society.