David Gaskin

David Leroy Gaskin passed away in Bozeman, MT, on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at the age of 79 after a long battle with ischemic heart disease. Never one to be the center of attention, Heavenly Father got the last laugh when He called Dave home just after giving the opening prayer at church.



David was born May 18, 1942 in Nucla, CO to Sidney and Alene Gaskin and grew up throughout the United States. After graduating from high school in Rapid City, SD, Dave enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and fought in the Vietnam War before returning home and becoming an Airforce drill sergeant – a discipline he would utilize throughout his life. Dave suffered a heart attack in 2005 where he learned that agent orange exposure in Vietnam did significant damage to his vascular system. Not one to be kept down by anything, he continued to run every morning and was busy working on projects until the end. Dave was a master of all trades, he could fix anything, and moved about the West most of his life. He first moved to Bozeman in 1976 before settling down in Bozeman in 1997.



Dave met the love of his life, Sandra, in the fall of 1997 when they were coworkers at Four Corners Hardware. Sweethearts until the end, they married on May 28, 1998 and were sealed in the Billings Temple in 1999. Their favorite family home evenings were spent playing pool in seedy bars with Don and Pat; eventually, they bought a pool table and moved the fun home where many happy memories were made playing with family and friends. Dave and Sandra also loved to go fishing. They spent many-a-days together on the water where the fish were most definitely the winners. When they weren’t busy fishing or spending time with family, Dave spent his retired days working in the yard, helping neighbors, and walking various spoiled dogs. In 2016, their lives changed again when their granddaughter, Madison, came to live with them after she sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. There are no words to describe the kindness and love Grandpa Dave showed Madison as he welcomed her into their home. The love they shared for each other was marked by endless laughter, joking, and nightly snuggles on the couch.



Dave never met a stranger and was the ultimate people person. A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dave served weekly in the Billings Temple for years and was always grateful for any opportunity to bless others – be it as a host at Family Promise or cleaning the church building. Incredibly humble, there was no task too big or small for him. He lived to be of service and was the first person to help others, from driving veterans to Fort Harrison to helping domestic violence survivors find safety, his heart was as big as the world.



David loved and welcomed everyone, especially his family. He loved to brag about his son, Kevin, and his grandson and granddaughter, KC and Grace, who all followed in his footsteps when they joined the military. Just this last fall, he had the time of his life when he went to hunting camp in Colorado with Kevin, Grace and her husband, Alek. When Kevin married Lisa in 2005, Dave was blessed with two more grandchildren to love and brag on, Jessica and Colin, who loved to share time together at the lake chatting and fishing. Dave’s last fishing hurrah was spent with Colin on Canyon Ferry Lake, at Magpie Bay, catching walleye and swapping tales.



David leaves behind his beloved wife, Sandra (Scoffield) Gaskin; Davids' daughter, Brenda (Randy) Gaskin Trammell; their son Jason; Davids' son, Kevin (Lisa) Gaskin; their children, Kevin (Katelyn) Gaskin, Grace (Alek) Gaskin Marinenko, Jessica Nobil, and Colin Nobil; son, Zac (BJ) McCauley; their children, Madison, Aspen, Tallyn, and Arabella; daughter, Amy Fiel; son, Lucas (Kim) McCauley; their children, Jordan, Brooke, and Bo; son, Seth (Kim) McCauley; daughter, Melisa (Durc) Setzer; their child, Sterling, and his great granddaughter Hannah Gaskin. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Alene Gaskin and his brother, Chuck Gaskin. Dave is survived by his sister, Patricia (Kevin) Graczyk, sister-in-law Judy (Chuck) Gaskin and numerous nieces and nephews.



Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. on Monday, March 21, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bozeman, MT (2915 Colter Ave). Visitation will take place immediately beforehand starting at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Three Forks, MT. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to Bozeman veteran-related nonprofits Warriors and Quiet Waters or Heroes and Horses. Similarly, native trees may be purchased at a local nursery to be later planted at the cemetery.