Visitation: Visitation, with family present, will be Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, SD.
Service: Memorial services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 20 at LifeScape (4100 S. Western Ave. Sioux Falls, SD). Please enter through the south door.
David Ross, 57, of Canton, SD died unexpectedly on Saturday, November 13th. Memorial services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 20 at LifeScape (4100 S. Western Ave. Sioux Falls, SD). Visitation, with family present, will be Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, SD. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be directed to LifeScape.
David was an amazing father, husband, son, brother, and “Papa.” He was kind and loving, and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was always willing to step in with a helping hand to anyone who needed it without hesitation. He was known for his ability to make everyone around him feel incredibly loved, unconditionally.
David was born October 4th, 1964 to Clyde and Leona Ross of Artesian, SD. He attended school in Artesian where he played football and basketball. David enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1982 and completed basic training that summer at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He graduated from Artesian High School in 1983 before returning to finish his training. In November of 1987, he entered Active Duty Air Force.
David married his first wife Melissa Bendt in Spearfish, SD in October 1987. Shortly after, they were stationed in Turkey where their first child, Troy, was born in June of 1988. In 1990, they were stationed at Fort McCord, Washington where their daughter Beth was born. That year, David was also deployed to Saudi Arabia where he served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
In 1994, David left the Air Force and transferred to the Army National Guard in South Dakota to be closer to his children and family. He served in the National Guard until 2003.
His daughter Allie Mae was born in 2003 to David & Billie Jo Fischer. Raising Allie gave him a renewed purpose in life. One of his greatest joys was when Allie came to live with him full-time. They needed each other, and together they thrived.
In 2008, David began working at Lifescape, where his daughter Allie was a student. He was incredibly proud of his job and loved contributing to the care of the residents and students there.
In 2013, David married his soulmate Cindy Bakker. Through this, he gained three more children: Brooke, Dan, and Matt, as well as his favorite title yet, “Papa” to Carter, Roxann, and Adeline, and later Bennett, Sawyer, and Ezra. Together, David and Cindy were campground hosts at Dirk’s Resort Campground in Madison, SD where they gained their camping family. David loved nothing more than spending time with his family on the “Papatoon” on Lake Herman.
Grateful to have shared his life are his wife Cindy Ross, of Canton, SD, and five children; Brooke Rollinger, Daniel (Sarah) Bakker, Matthew (Janae) Bakker, Troy (Amanda) Ross, and Beth (Mickey Ladich) Ross, and six grandchildren; Carter, Roxann, Adeline, Bennett, Sawyer, and Ezra, as well as his mother Leona Ross of Mitchell, SD and four siblings; Deb (Mike) Johnston, Donna (Lonny) Quiram, Dorene (Gordy) Smook, and Darin (Lynde) Ross, in addition to many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his daughter, Allie Mae Fischer, father Clyde Ross, brother Dennis Ross, father-in-law Jack Anderson and mother-in-law Marge Anderson.
I am sadden to hear of Davids passing! I never had the opportunity to meet him. Leah spoke highly of him and how wonderful of a man David was.
Cindy and family: My deepest sympathy and love goes out to you during this difficult time. I pray for God’s love to shine upon you all and for understanding.
Cindy,
So sorry for you loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Ronda
We are heartbroken to hear of your loss. You are a very important part of the Esurance family, and just know you have our full support as you go through the grieving process.
My prayers and hugs to David’s family. David was a special human being who loved his family and life. His smile and laughter lit up the room. He will be missed.
Cindy….I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am here you if you need anything.
Cindy, I am so very sorry for your great loss my dear. Sending Prayers for Gods strength for you all.
Cindy…. I am sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am here for you if you need anything
Thinking of you and your family, Cindy. May you all find peace during this time.
Cindy, you and your family will be in my prayers. I pray for strength for all of you. May God carry you in his grace through this.
Cindy and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you all. David was a best friend to me, i know that he is with his daughter now and those who passed before him that he loved.
My heart breaks for you all. David was a really great guy. Wishing you peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Our sincere sympathies to David’s family – his smile was contagious and would light up a room – I remember him from days of growing up in the Artesian community with his parents and siblings. Rest in peace and prayers of comfort
Sending you deepest condolences Cindy and family. Prayers for peace and comfort.
Cindy, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Reach out if you need anything. Much love my friend
Cindy my love to you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss dear friend.
Cindy, never got to meet this very special person in your life only in pictures. His smile and love for every moment spent with family is truly a blessing. Just know, he will never live you has long keep him in your heart. Keep talking to him and he will answer. Watch for the signs.
My prayers are with you and your family.🙏🙏
Cindy, my heart aches for you for your tremendous loss. Praying for you and your family for strength during this difficult time.
I was so sad to hear the news. My prayers are with you and your family.
Cindy and family~ So sorry for your loss!! Gone too soon. Let me know if you need anything. ((Hugs))
Cindy and family~ So sorry for your loss!! Gone too soon!! Let me know if you need anything. ((Hugs))
Our condolences to David’s family.
He will be missed.
I am so sorry for your loss Cindy and family. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Cindy and Family, we were so sorry to hear of David’s sudden passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this most difficult time. With Love and Sympathy, Sonja & Mick Tyrrell
Dear Matt, Janae and Family, we were so sorry to here of the sudden passing of your stepdad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. God bless all of you. With Love & Sympathy-From Your Friends at JFI
Cindy, you could just tell David was truly your soulmate. Knowing you for SO many years I’ve never seen you so happy. Hope you find comfort in knowing he’ll always be watching over you, until you are two are reunited ❤️
We’ll keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers❤️
Dear Ross Family
I am so sorry for you loss, my thoughts are with you and your family.
Mary
Cindy, family, Lee, and David’s brother and sisters, I am deeply sorry for your loss. David was a very kind, caring person from the very beginning of his life. I went to school with David since kindergarten so I saw his kindness all the time. We recently messaged each other talking about family, and David was so proud of his family, and you could tell by his words his love for you all! Cindy, he was deeply in love with you, but I’m sure you know that. I never got to meet you but David talked sweetly of you in our messages. Lee, Clyde and you, raised a responsible, caring, and loving son, David. During this difficult time, please think of David’s huge smile, smiling on you all from heaven. Take care and God Bless, Deanna Blunt-Grosz
So sad to here of the passing of one of my best friends through grade /high school. Throughout high school Dave and I along with a couple other friends were inseperateable. There are very few stories that I can tell from those years that don’t start with Rossy and me did this or that. We played football together, played trombone by each other in band, and spent most every Saturday night cruising Mitchell in each other’s car. We talked about joining the National Guard, but the final push that got us in was watching Stripes at the theater together. We probably added way to many gray hair to our parents, but somehow survived. Dave was the best of friends, we learned a lot about life together, and I’m very lucky to have known him.
My deepest sympathy go to Dave’s family, his wife, Cindy, his children and grandchildren, his Mom, Lee, and his brother and sisters. Rest in peace buddy.
Sorry for your loss. Our Thought and prayers to you and the family.
So sorry for your loss. I last saw Dave when he attended my husband, Leo Effling’s funeral in 2017. Leo was a classmate of Dave’s. They left us too soon. Lean on Jesus and those around you. You will be in my prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss, Cindy! I miss you! My heart goes out to you and your family! I am here if you ever want to talk!! <3 <3
We were very sorry to hear about David’s passing. We will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Reed and Kathy Plate
Was saddened to hear of David’s passing. He was one of my little cousins. We share a family of Plates. He will be so greatly missed. I pray his family will cherish the times they have had with him. Again so very very sorry for this great loss.
Cindy, just learned the sad news about Dave. Deepest condolences to you and his family. His smile lit up the neighborhood almost as much as his extraordinary Christmas light display!
Always willing to lend a hand and help in any way, and always with that glorious smile!
Wishing you peace and comfort.
Cindy, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry for your heartbreaking loss.
We are all so very sorry for your loss, David was a hard worker, a great co-worker and all of us from the Maintenance Department will miss him terribly. He made us laugh every time we had the opportunity to see him and he was a very kind and loving man. He truly was one of a kind and he will be missed by everyone that was lucky enough to be a part of his life. Our prayers are with you and your family. God Bless The Maintenance Department
I am so sorry to hear about your husband my prayers are with you
Deepest Sympathies to David’s families. He will be missed.