David Stanley Sprague

David Sprague passed peacefully in his home on October 9th, 2024. He was 90 years old. A dynamic and gregarious man, he touched the lives of all those he crossed paths with.

Dave was born on August 6, 1934, to Stanley and Margaret Sprague on a farm north of Osakis, Minnesota. He often recalled how he almost didn’t survive the home birth due to the complications of being breech.

Born in the heart of the Great Depression, life was tremendously difficult, but having parents that loved and nurtured their children made all the difference. Especially influential was David’s mother, Margaret, who never spoke ill of anyone or used foul language, and was sure to instill the importance of gratitude, generosity, and kindness unto her children. No matter the circumstance, she always reminded Dave how fortunate he was to be healthy. Above all else, Margaret imparted unto him the value and importance of education, a belief that would eventually become the guiding principle behind much of his personal and professional life. For eight years, Dave attended a one room country schoolhouse. Though often too poor for shoes, Dave and his siblings would walk to school each day, no matter the weather. In 1952, he graduated from Eagle Bend High School.

After graduation, David moved to Howard, South Dakota to work before being drafted into the US Army. After basic training, he was sent to Korea as a member of the 24th Infantry Division where he served 16 months guarding the DMZ between North and South Korea. David was proud of his military service and considered it an honor to serve his country. After an honorable discharge, Dave attended Dakota State University on the G.I. Bill, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He then taught high school while working towards his master’s degree at South Dakota State University. Dave was then hired at South Dakota State University where he spent 4 great years. In 1967, Dave was awarded a fellowship at the University of South Dakota to work on his Doctorate which he completed in 1969. Shortly thereafter, Dave was hired at St. Cloud State University as the Director of Counseling and Related Services. In 1973, Dave was appointed to the position of Vice President for Student Life and Development. Dave absolutely loved his job at SCSU, occupying the vice presidency for 23 years and serving under 5 different presidents before his retirement in 1996. 

Dave met the love of his life, Betty Moberg, in 1962 and they married in Marshall, Minnesota on May 25, 1963. They had two sons: Clark and Travis. Family was his greatest joy in life. Dave spent many memorable days hunting, fishing, and watching sports with his sons. Their fishing trips took them to Alaska, Canada and many places across Minnesota. They hunted turkey, grouse, and deer in Minnesota, pheasants in South Dakota, and ducks in North Dakota. In later years, Dave treasured his Saturday morning tradition of having breakfast with Clark and Travis.

The Sprague family loved to travel. Dave and Betty took a family vacation every year to different parts of the country. By the end, they had traveled to all 50 states, as well as many countries in Europe and the Far East. 

Friendships were vitally important to Dave. His network of friends spanned all ages and all walks of life. Dave truly loved his friends and was a master at keeping in contact with people, often spending an hour or more each night talking on the phone with one of his many, many acquaintances. He was always genuinely interested in their lives and how they were “getting along”. He loved to lend a hand and was willing to do anything he could for his friends when they were facing challenges or personal struggle. Dave was always happy to give more than he received. One group he particularly enjoyed was a bunch of friends that met daily for many years to have breakfast at the Green Mill in St. Cloud, MN. Even after leaving the state, Dave was sure to stay in contact with the fellas through phone calls, doing so up until the end of his life. Dave cared deeply for his people and understood the importance of friendship. He measured success not with material possessions, but rather by the meaningful relationships he cultivated with others. 

Professionally, Dave was active in many organizations related to his work. He was elected as president of the Minnesota College Personnel Association and held offices in a number of other state and national organizations. He was a member of the honorary scholastic societies of Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Gamma Mu. In his free-time, Dave was a voracious reader with a comprehensive knowledge of history who loved to strike up conversation with anyone he thought might be interested. In later years he became an ardent supporter of Montana State University athletics, particularly the women’s basketball team, where he could often be found behind the announcer’s table cheering for the Bobcats.

In 2016, Dave and Betty moved to Bozeman, Montana to be with their two sons and their families. Dave is survived by his wife Betty, sons Clark (Sonya), Travis (Natalie) and four grandchildren –Carson, Cullen, Olivia, and Samantha. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and he cherished every minute he could spend with them. He will be buried in the veteran’s section of Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, Montana. He will be missed dearly.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, 1:00 pm at Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service in Bozeman, Montana. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The service will be live streamed at www.dahlcares.com for those unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated.