David Murray Moore

The oldest of five children born to Lowell John and Myrtle (Dunlap) Moore, David Murray Moore was born May 26, 1925 at their home two miles north of Vivian. After several moves, his parents bought their ranch in 1942 on the White River south of Vivian. Today, it is where Terry and Kay Moore live. 

Dave graduated from Vivian High School in 1942, then “Uncle Sam” called and he enlisted into the Army in 1944 shipping out to Europe. He was a half-track driver in the 6th Armored Division under General George Patton.

After his term ended with the war in 1945, he worked for Leo Booth, Rich Oller and Lyle Hulce. When he was employed by Leo Booth, he took notice of a blonde, blue-eyed Oscar Selland daughter. A relationship bloomed and he married Janice Selland on June 17, 1949. To this union, four children were born: Donna, Leslie, Larry and Della.

In the early 1950s, he began his banking career with the Callanan Family who owned Vivian State Bank. Chuck Tomhave asked Dave, “How would you like to work here?” Dave replied, “Well, I need to check with my boss (Lyle Hulce).” Chuck replied that he had already cleared it with Lyle. Dave took pride in the fact that he never had to make a resume or interview for a job, he was always asked. After Chuck passed in a car wreck, Dave became the bank manager. After 36 years, he retired and began his own insurance agency.

Besides working on crossword puzzles daily, Dave’s hobby was mowing lawns. He enjoyed mowing for many people and taught his sons and Erikson grandsons to mow. He oversaw them as they began to mow for others in town. In his retirement years, he was grateful to Mike Sprenger who hired him as an insurance agent. Then, Keith and Marge Hayes family hired him for their insurance agency out of the Draper State Bank. His last and probably proudest job was working for the Delmer and Delores Volmer family at Presho Livestock handing out buyer card numbers. Dave loved the social aspect of working at the sale barn visiting with buyers and sellers and seeing the livestock. He loved to keep active and these three jobs added years to his life.

Dave was very community minded and was willing to be involved in all Vivian town activities. He served as a Vivian Volunteer Fireman and was an active member until just a few years before he moved to the Elder Inn, Winner, S.D. He was a proud American Legion member and received his 70-Year plaque in 2017. Dave was handy with numbers and helped folks with their income taxes while he worked in the bank. He kept books for the Vivian Fire Department and Hilmoe cemetery.

Gone with Dave’s passing is a voluminous history of Lyman County. He had a superb memory and could guide people to old family homesteads and recall dates, events, people’s names and who they were related to, plus he loved to memorize license plates.

Dave had a great love for sports and was a lifelong Cubs and Bears fan. He attended countless ball games following three generations of kids, grandkids and great grandchildren. The grandkids always knew they could look in the stands and Grandpa and Grandma would be there cheering them on!

He looked at life through the lens of being a proud Patriot whether raising his family, serving his community, being a businessman or being a Grandpa. He loved his country and loved the flag evidenced by the many, many color guards he marched in. For years, he raised and lowered the flag at the Vivian Post Office for Linda Perry. He also loved to share his “dirty thirties” and WW II experiences with students by speaking to classes at Lyman and New Underwood (where Della taught) Schools. While on a trip to Germany revisiting his WW II travels, he was invited to speak at a German school. He remembers that they flew an American flag the day he was there.

A highlight of Dave’s life was being a member of the first Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in May 2008. Accompanied by brother Terry, it was a special, memorable trip for both of them!

He was a life-long member of the Vivian Lutheran Church and served in many church offices. He also served several terms on the Vivian School Board.

Since August 2016, he has resided at the Elder Inn Assisted Living, Winner, S.D. He always remarked, “If I can’t be home, this is a really good place to be!” We greatly appreciate the kindess and support that Tammy and the Elder Inn staff gave Dave.

Dave passed peacefully in Winner, S.D. on July 18, 2020 surrounded by his children. He is survived by daughters, Donna Erikson (Ron) Kinsley; Della (Jerry) Mader; and sons, Leslie (Shelli); Larry (Lezlie); grandchildren, Karsten (Dixie) Erikson, Clint (Tessa) Erikson, Beth (Trusty) Mertens, Courtney (Michael) Gould, Chris (Alicia) Erikson, Casey Hupp, Lex & Lane Moore, Zach (Kenzie) Mader and Lindsay Mader; great grandchildren, Grace Erikson, Josie & Amber Mertens, Ellie, Aaron, Miley & Owen Erikson, James Calhoon, Carter & Evan Erikson, Ruby & Beck Gould, Camden, Archer & Renner Erikson, Zylah & Zaydin Mader, Nolan, Maggie & McKenna Hupp; brother Terry (Kay) Moore and brother-in-law Darrel Lintvedt; sister Margaret Juhnke and sister-in-law Bernice Moore; plus, numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lowell and Myrtle Moore and in-laws Oscar and Jeanette Selland; wife, Janice; siblings Jack Moore and Mary Lou Lintvedt; brother-in-law Ronald Juhnke and son-in-law Daryld Erikson.

There will be a memorial service at 2:00pm on Saturday, July 25, 2020 at the Vivian Auditorium. Online condolences may be written at: www.isburgfuneralchapels. com