David Daniel ST. JOHN

1957 - 2024

October 31, 1957 - December 27, 2024

David Daniel St. John, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away December 27, 2024, at the age of 67. Dave was born October 31, 1957, to Donald and Shirley St. John in Spokane, Washington, and grew up on the family farm outside of Rosalia.

Dave attended Rosalia Schools all 12 years where he was a 3-sport athlete and excelled in many facets of FFA. Upon graduation in 1976, Dave continued his football career at Wenatchee Valley Jr. College, where he played football for two years and obtained his AA Degree. His love for agriculture took him to Washington State University where he graduated in 1980 with a B.S. in Agriculture Education.

In 1981-82 Dave taught Ag Education at Mead High School, was an FFA Advisor and an assistant high school football coach. In 1983, Dave's dad, Don, suffered a back injury and along with his love for the dirt, Dave came back to the family farm to help his dad and become a partner with him on the farm. Later expanding with his own farm in 1988, upon Don's retirement, where he was a steward of the land until the day he passed.

Dave met the love of his life, Cathy (Wall) St. John in 1986. It was no surprise that their first date was to a WSU Cougar football game, and they have been going to games ever since. In 1989 they were married at St Al's on Gonzaga's campus and moved to their home where they live today, up the road from the family farm. Together they formed D&C St. John Crooked Creek Farm and have operated it for the past 35 years. Starting in 1991, they had three children, Zachary, Madalynne (1995), and Beau (2000). His family was the highlight of his life, and everything centered around their activities and teaching them the values of hard work on the farm and importance of family, something he lived every day.

Dave's love for all sports ran very deep. He began with refereeing Whitman County basketball in the late '70s and refereeing several State B Basketball Tournaments in the early '80s. Dave was a member of the Independent Order of Oddfellows since 1988. Dave later moved on to being an Assistant High School Boys' Basketball coach from 1984-1992, Head Boys Basketball Coach 1993-1995, and Head High School Football Coach from 1983-1994 at Rosalia High School. He coached Tekoa-Oakesdale football with his brother-in-law, Tom Wall in 1996-2001. Dave took a few years off from coaching when he had both of his hips replaced, then he returned to the hardwood as the Rosalia High School Girls basketball coach from 2005-2013, coaching his daughter, Maddy, too. He led multiple teams to several playoffs, semi-finals and the State Title football game in 1985. Dave's first love was family and farming, but his passion was coaching, where he loved working with the kids and teaching them all his "Daveisms"!

Dave fought a long hard battle with cancer in late 2013 and a year later was finally cancer free. He made sure to tell everyone that life was a gift and sometimes too short, but to make sure and take the time to live. And live is exactly what he did. In 2019, he finally traveled to Kodiak, Alaska, to fish with lifelong friends, followed Beau playing football with the Idaho Vandals (2021-2022) across the country to Louisiana, Indiana, Utah, Montana, California, Arizona, and more. He spent the summer at the lake between baling and hauling hay and embraced every holiday season. You could find Dave in the pasture with his cows, fixing fences with his dogs, driving tractor, or cheering for his beloved Cougs and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Cathy; children, Zachary (Bailey) St. John, Madalynne (Riley) MacQuarrie, and Beau St. John; plus new grandson, Kase William St John. He also leaves behind countless family members and friends that he adored. Dave's life was a testament to hard work, dedication, love and kindness, which will not be forgotten – but deeply missed.

Welcomed into heaven by his parents, Donald and Shirly St. John; grandparents, Louise and Dick Squires and Harold and Mamie St. John; sister, Melinda St. John; nephew, Casey Lawson; and best friend, Brian Blank.

A service to celebrate Dave's life will be held at 11:00 am on January 18, 2024, at Rosalia High School, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a Scholarship Fund in Dave's memory that will be set up at First Interstate Bank in Rosalia or mail them to 302 St. John Road, Rosalia, WA 99170.