Daniel L. Stave

Daniel L. Stave, 72, of Leeds, ND passed away Monday, January 12, 2026 in rural Leeds after injuries sustained in an automobile accident.  Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, January 19, 2026 at the Leeds Public School Gymnasium with Pastor Sharon Baker officiating.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the school.  Burial will be held at the Leeds Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Leeds Lutheran Cemetery Fund: P.O. Box 76, Leeds, ND 58346 or to the Bravera Bank for an Agricultural Scholarship that has been set up in Daniel’s name: P.O. Box 219 Leeds, ND 58346.

Daniel was born October 28, 1953 to Nelson and Rebecca (Calderwood) Stave in Devils Lake, ND.  The family lived in Leeds before moving to Bismarck, ND, where Dan graduated from Bismarck High School.  Dan planned to farm after high school, but Nelson and Becky had other plans and enrolled him in college.  Dan attended Bismarck State College for 2 years then transferred to NDSU where he received his degree in agricultural education. He taught one year in Cando before accepting the Ag teacher position in Leeds.  On April 23, 1977, Dan married Candace Straabe in Churchs Ferry, ND and made their home east of Leeds.  In 1979, their only daughter Traci was born.

Through the years, Dan and Candy raised beef cattle, feeder pigs, sheep, chickens, and because of his favorite daughter, one horse; which only lasted a couple years.  In August of 1990, Dan was activated with the North Dakota National Guard Unit out of Cando and served 10 months in Desert Storm.  He earned a Bronze Star for his service in a combat zone.  When he returned home, Daniel became very active in the church and community activities.  He served the Leeds Lutheran Church as President of the church council, and served on the endowment committee, on the call committee three different times, the nominating committee, and was a youth Sunday school teacher.  In the community he was active in the Leeds American Legion Post #0101.  If Daniel wasn’t in the front of a parade with a flag, he was in the back of the parade with the ‘pooper scoopers’.  

At the school, his boots could be heard in the hallways for 37 years.  As the FFA Advisor, he took judging teams across the state and to the State and National FFA Conventions. The Dairy foods contest was Dan’s favorite contest for many years; that was his contest.  Many years he spent coaching Junior High Football and later found a love for coaching girls volleyball.  Dan spent long hours at the school helping students create some of the best proms, and helping students with FFA Fruit and Pizza sales, Christmas tree sales and at the candy concessions at most sporting events.

After retiring from teaching, Dan got his time in the tractor; planting and harvesting with his neighbor Duane Anderson.  Dan was very happy with the life he and Candy lived together.  He was proud of his family, especially his five grandchildren, his ranch, and his community.  Dan enjoyed farming in retirement, watching Westerns and Hallmark Christmas movies, watching Viking Football, watching NDSU Bison games and traveling to Frisco, TX for National Championships.  He was a devoted husband and father, proud grandfather, role model, quiet leader, a community spirit, and a teacher/mentor to many.  Dan will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.  

Dan is survived by his wife of 48 years, Candace; daughter, Traci (David) Ripplinger of West Fargo, ND; 5 grandchildren, Katherine, Thomas, Michael, Teresa, and Caroline; siblings, Kent (Yvonne), Dawn, Karl (Barb), Lowell (Lori), and Lane (Laura); numerous brother and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nelson and Rebecca Stave; parents-in-law, Thorvald and Maxine Straabe; sister-in-law, Judy Tompkins; brothers-in-law, Craig Straabe and David Straabe; uncles, Terry Stave, David Stave, George Calderwood, Russell Calderwood, Willis Calderwood and Donald Calderwood.