David Wayne "Dave" Burton

1943 - 2025

David "Dave" Wayne Burton passed away peacefully July 10, 2025, after a courageous, determined and unwavering battle with pancreatic cancer for more than a year. He was 81 years old.

Born July 26, 1943, in St. Cloud, David was the son of Martin and Merna (Swan) Burton. He was raised on his family's farm in Rice, where he developed a lifelong love for the outdoors and internalized the values of hard work, responsibility and doing things right. As a young man, he was actively involved in 4-H and later served briefly in the U.S. Navy, receiving an honorable discharge.

Over the years, David pursued a variety of vocations, including driving transfer trucks, hauling pontoon boats, and holding maintenance and management positions at several factories. He brought integrity, skill and dedication to every job he had.
After leaving Minnesota, David spent 28 wonderful years in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his second wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Burton. There, he had a passion for elk hunting, fishing and enjoying the rugged beauty of the West. In retirement, they settled in Sanford, North Carolina, to enjoy a warmer climate.

David found joy in his close-knit community of friends in the Model A Ford Club. He and his fiancée, Svea "Ginger" Dellasandro, were avid tour participants and won many awards for their involvement over the years. David and Ginger spent the last seven years together enjoying the things he loved most: fishing, road trips, visits with family and traveling with the Model A Restorer's Club. David's kindness, thoughtfulness and willingness to lend a hand left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his first ex-wife, Sandra "Sandy" Terrell, and his second wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Burton, whom he had been married to for 47 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Merna Burton, and his brother James "Jimmy" Burton.

David is survived by his loving fiancée, Svea "Ginger" Dellasandro; his daughter Rebecca "Becky" Smithwick (Howard); granddaughters Julianne Butler (Ryan) and Samantha Sparks (Levi); great-grandchildren Talan and Olivia Butler; and Becky's half-brother, Paul Lindquist.

A Celebration of Life in Minnesota will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 at VFW Post 6992, 901 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379. All family and friends are welcome.

David Burton and Elizabeth Burton will be laid to rest together in niches 4C and 4D on the Hilltop Mausoleum 1 South Wall at Hilltop Mausoleum in Sauk Rapids, under the care of Williams Dingmann Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be made in David's honor to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).org" target="_blank">PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).org.

"Our Country is in Mourning, A Veteran Died Today."

R-35-1P