David Edward Davidson

David Edward Davidson, 79, passed away Monday, March 25, 2024 at his home in Emmons. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Conger. A visitation will be held Friday, April 5, 2024 from 4-6 PM at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home and for an hour prior to the service on Saturday. A meal will be shared at the Alden Community Center following the service. Reverend Lou Peters will be officiating.

David Edward Davidson was born in Albert Lea MN on January 28, 1945 to Denhard Gilbert and Alverta Ella Davidson. He grew up on his family farm in rural Emmons and it was from the farm that he loved where he left to be with his Lord on Monday, March 25 at 1:40 am with his family present.

Dave helped his father work the farm while attending Alden High School. Upon graduation he was drafted into the army and served from 1965-1967. One year of his tour was served in Vietnam until he was sent home to his father’s death in 1967.

On October 21st, 1967 Dave was united in marriage to his beloved Bonnie Jean Hiveley at St. Peters Lutheran in St. Paul. Dave and Bonnie made their home for 40 years in Maplewood MN where they raised their loving and caring sons: Dean, Bradley, and Adam. They were also gifted with four beautiful granddaughters: Isabel, Grace, Chloe, and Natalie.

Dave Attended St. Paul Technical Institute to learn the trade of welding and equipment maintenance. He was employed by American Hoist and Derrick for 18 years until they relocated to N.C. He returned to school and received his boilers license and was then employed by Tiro Corp. until he retired in 2003.

David had an intense love for the outdoors and nature. He absolutely loved working at the farm when he could, making beautiful flower gardens and growing vegetables in his small garden in the field. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and snowmobiler. He also loved going to his son’s football and softball games and his granddaughter’s sports.

Dave’s other passions were being a member of the Thursday Squad of the Fort Snelling Rifle Squad. He served on the board at the American Legion and VFW in North St. Paul. He also served on the Color Guard in N. St. Paul and at the Alden American Legion when he returned to the farm in 2018 after building a new home. David had also volunteered at the Maplewood Fire Department for 18½ years.

David loved his God with every fiber of his being. His wife to whom he was lovingly devoted for 56 years, family, friends, and country were the passion of his soul. Dave was truly a loyal person to everyone he loved and he will be sorely missed by all. He was a very simple, caring, loving, and faithful man with a gigantic heart and his legendary dry sense of humor.

I want to thank all of our family and friends for your prayers, your love, your food, your visits, and all of what you gave both of us, especially in the past 14 months.

David was preceded in death by his parents, his son Bradley Donald, granddaughter Grace Anne, in-laws Donald and Beverly Hiveley and Vivian Adams, sister-in-law Donna Peterson, and brother-in-law Terry Olson.

David is survived by his wife Bonnie, son Dean of Northfield MN and his special friend Allison Pharmer, son Adam (Amy) of Two Rivers WI, granddaughters Isabel, Chloe, and Natalie, brothers-in-law Dan, David, and Jim Hiveley, Len Olson, and William Mac, and very special friend Michele Alm.

We would also like to especially thank the St. Croix Hospice Care for their outstanding care of Dave for the last 14 months as he battled lung cancer and Parkinsons. You helped make his life so much easier with all the love you showed us. Thank you.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the D.A.V. (Disabled American Vets).