David E. Palmer

David Eugene Palmer, 71, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at his home.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Patrick Lewellen officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.

A time of fellowship and luncheon will be after the burial at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Friday, September 29, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation continues one hour before the service at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.

David Eugene Palmer was born in Aberdeen, SD to Leslie and Elaine (Lilly) Palmer on October 19, 1951.

Dave developed his strong work ethic during his early years on the family farm near Westport. In those days after-school activities meant doing chores such as feeding the cows, stacking hay bales, etc. There was still plenty of fun to be had with his brothers, such as building snow forts and swimming in the river.

Dave and the family moved to Aberdeen where he attended Monroe Jr High and Central High School, graduating in 1969. Shortly after graduating, he began to work on the Old Milwaukee Railroad as a brakeman/conductor. He continued through the Burlington Northern years and retired from the BNSF in 2011. He was a very skilled rail who always took great pride in getting the job done the right way. Day or night, good weather or bad, including holidays, Dave always answered the call.

Not only was he a hard worker, but he was always great at saving and providing for his family. When he was 19 years old, he bought a brand-new Camaro that he paid cash for. He was always very proud of that. He loved a good joke and shared many with his coworkers, family, and friends over the years. Rodney Dangerfield was a favorite, lending him the nickname Rodney, due to his spot-on impersonation.

In June 1976 he married Lynn Reis and 3 children followed. He married Patricia Wade on December 26, 2001, and gained 6 more children and many grandchildren.

Family was very important to Dave. Even among extended family, he never missed a function or forgot a birthday. He took a big family vacation every year, seeing many states and landmarks along the way. He loved sports, especially golf, and always enjoyed his trips to the South to golf and visit his siblings. He was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan. One of his greatest hopes was to see the Vikings finally win a Super Bowl which sadly has still not happened yet. He knew a lot about sports stats and trivia, history and geography. He enjoyed a good game of cribbage or gin rummy with his son. Music was also a passion of his. Whether he was playing his bass in a band with his brother Don, going to see local musicians, and jamming with them when he had the chance to, or just watching concerts at home, it was a big part of his life and happiness. He loved hunting and fishing too.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Wade; daughters Andrea (Darren) Medhaug and Hilary (Jayson Swanson) Palmer; son Michael Palmer; and brother Don (Sharen) Palmer, all of Aberdeen; brother Richard (Vicki) Palmer of Jacksonville, FL and sister Jean (Phil) Johnson of Hayden, Idaho; stepchildren Nick (Amanda) Berg of Las Angeles, CA, Shannon (Josh Ogaard) Berg, Megan (Shane) Whittet of Bloomington, MN, Joelle (Karsun) Newport of Juneau, AK, Caitlin (Andy Faulkner) Berg of Dubuque, IA and Nathan (Ash) Berg of Aberdeen, SD; and 17 grandchildren and many nieces & nephews.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents Leslie E Palmer and Elaine C Palmer.