Dave (David Thomas) Wall, 74, of Sturgis, SD, and Wright, WY, passed away November 1, 2013 at the VA Black Hills Health Care System at Fort Meade following a nearly 2 month struggle with post operative complications after lung surgery on September 10, 2013.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with the family present at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 7, 2013 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Herbert B. Cleveland officiating. Burial with military honors follows at the Bear Butte Cemetery.

Dave was born October 24, 1939 in Deadwood, SD, to Thomas G. and Karen B. (Wefald) Wall. He grew up in Sturgis and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1957. After a short stint in the South Dakota National Guard during his senior year, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps two days after graduation. He served three years at Camp Pendleton, California. After his discharge in 1960, Dave travelled to Wyoming and Utah working on construction and oilfield jobs. In 1962 he returned to the Black Hills where he was employed with various automotive related companies and the Nash Finch grocery warehouse.

During this time he met Shirley Slater and they were married on November 21, 1964. It was the beginning of a long life together as a team. They shared 49 years and had great adventures along the way to tell tall tales about. When Dave left his job at Beshara Motors in Deadwood, they decided to head west in 1965, settling first in Coeur d'Alene, ID, then on to Albany, OR and back to Spokane, WA.

In 1968, Dave decided to return to Sturgis to open his own shop, Dave's Auto Repair, which he operated for 14 years before taking a job at Carter Chevrolet in Newcastle.

Dave was a master mechanic who took immense pride in his workmanship, refusing to cut corners or perform repairs for a quick buck that were not up to his exacting standards. He expected his employees to follow his lead and to provide superior auto care for the many repeat customers of Dave's Auto. During the years after he returned to dealership work, he became a GM Master Technician. He truly enjoyed the Tech Training Schools. He got a big kick out of taking the factory tests to earn incentive awards and bring home the "freebies". In later years as an oil field mechanic, he embraced the new challenges of learning to rebuild vintage Waukesha motors and parts for pumping units.

Dave's lasting legacy will be the many times he extended his hand to help others who were down and out, including folks who often couldn't or wouldn't help themselves.

He rarely gave up on a second chance, choosing instead to continue investing time and energy in people that others had long since written off. He changed many lives for the better with his faith and patience and was rewarded by an extended family he was very proud of.

His favorite pastime was to share their company while enjoying a cool one and telling tales on his weekends back home in Sturgis. Dave especially liked Rally Week when he hosted friends from across the country for a yearly "rally family" reunion.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, Sturgis and Wright, WY; son Andrew (Lisa) Doell, Newell, SD; sisters Thomasa (Al) Leenknecht, Custer, SD, Jean Urban, Issaquah, WA.

Survivors also include nieces, Peggy (Rob) Roberts, Rapid City, SD, and Kathy (Vyrn) Urban, Issaquah, WA; nephews, Dale Leenknecht, Custer, SD, Michael (Dorothy) Urban, Renton, WA; sister in law, Lorna (John) Moline, Gooding, ID.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Shelby Wall, nephew, Carl Leenknecht, niece, Sarah Graham and brother in law, Arlo Urban.

With respect for Dave's conservative philosophy and firm belief in our second amendment rights, memorials will be donated to the Friends of the NRA Foundation to further their youth safety and firearm education.

End Discussion - DTW.

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