David Roy Baxter was born on September 27, 1949, to Donald Roy and Mary Helen (Anawalt) Baxter in Kansas City, Missouri. David was the third of four children. He was adventurous, daring, and kind. All the neighborhood children wanted him to come out and play; he was loyal and a friend to anyone. After David graduated from Smithville High School in 1967, he attended the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy, graduating in 1970. After a few years he moved on to working security for the Kmart corporation, this led to 25 years of employment moving into management for many of those years.

David met his first wife, Sharon, in high school, and they were married shortly after. To this union his first son Christopher David was born in 1970. In 1974, David was united in marriage to his forever love Donna Kay Fritz. This union brought two children into the world, Dustin Paul in 1977 and Dana Marie in 1979. For over 20 years David and Donna welcomed and genuinely loved nearly 400 foster children, this would be one of their greatest joys in life. Two of these foster children would become forever theirs, Beau James joined the family in 1988, and later Randi Marie in 1998; the perfect fit to complete our family. David also had a special friend in his dog Thor, a faithful companion who was always by his side. His greatest legacy will always be his family.

Over the years David wore many hats, he worked as an undercover investigator, in the sheriff reserves, retail worker, started a construction company with his brother, EMT, CASA worker, Santa Claus, foster parent, bus driver, Boy Scout leader, baseball coach, owned a bowling alley, worked for Walker Refuse, and NAPA and many more. David had many hobbies hunting, fishing, tinkering with tools, coffee drinking with his “peeps,” always joking around, and most importantly spending time with his family. In 1993, David decided to move his family to the small town of Wall. A chance meeting at a barber shop in Rapid City led to a job at Estes Building Center. David felt strongly about finding his way back to small town life and raising his family there. Their time in Wall was filled with many great memories and lifetime friends. The last couple years of his life were spent in Kadoka, near his daughter, Dana and her family. Kadoka was very special to them, and they made many friends in the short time they spent in the community. The love and kindness of those who helped David will be something we are all eternally grateful for.


Grateful for having shared his life are his best friend and wife of nearly 49 years, Donna, his children Chris (Deborah) Baxter of Trimble, Missouri, Dustin (Kaycee Miller) Baxter of Pierre, Dana (Chad) Eisenbraun of Kadoka, Anne Jo (Brandon Smith) Spotted Bear, and Randi (David Rieger) Baxter of Sioux Falls. His grandchildren to whom he was known as “Pops” Austin, Amy, Keyvin, Maddie, Kaylee, Reese, Dustin Jr., Ravin, Ashley, Gracie, Kaylen, Darby, Karson, Cooper, Tyson, Zaivian, Lincoln, and his sweet little Nola. His great grandchildren Ella Grace, Madi, and Westyn. His mother Mary Helen Baxter of Plattsburg, Missouri, sisters Sherry Christian of Lathrop, Missouri and Cathy (Dennis) Moyer of Kansas City, Missouri; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Donald Roy Baxter, brother Donald Lee Baxter, brother-in-law Roy Christian, and son Beau Spotted Bear.

A celebration of life service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 4, at the United Methodist Church in Wall.

Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 431 Kadoka, SD 57543.