David A. Bales

David A. Bales, 61, of Cody, Wyo., formerly of New Mexico and Aurora, Ill., went home to the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. The fourth of five sons of James and Phyllis (Steinkamp) Bales, he was born Sept. 23, 1964, in Aurora, Ill.

Always a restless spirit, he moved with his twin sister, Jane, to Rio Rancho, N.M., in 1996 and later moved to Albuquerque, N.M. He earned both Bachelor's and Master of Business Administration degrees at New Mexico Highlands University in Rio Rancho, NM. In 2015, the mountains of Wyoming beckoned and David moved to Cody, Wyo., where he lived until his death.

While in Aurora he worked for several years at MetLife and at Plum Landing Retirement Community. In New Mexico his work included a stint at Sandia National Labs, among other positions.

His jobs were just that – a means of making a living. His non-working pursuits were the heart of his life and included his video games and photography. He was the photographer of one of the most extensive New Mexico-based collection of Route 66 photographs of the "Mother Road," many of which include landmarks no longer standing.

David is survived by his twin, Jane, of Rio Rancho, N.M., and six other siblings, James (Jack), of Fredericksburg, Va.; Richard (Dick) (Joanne), of Aurora; Elizabeth (Beth) (Steve) Olson, of Geneva; Sister Katherine Bales, of Springfield, Ill.; Margaret (Peggy) (Jon) Gilbertson, of Aurora; and Robert, of Rio Rancho; sister-in-law Apiluk, of Rio Rancho, as well as several nieces and nephews and a great-niece.

He was preceded in death in 2025 by his mother, Phyllis Steinkamp Bales of Aurora, and his brother, William (Bill), of Rio Rancho, N.M.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at Riverside Cemetery, 1721 Gulch St., in Cody.