Obituary
David Wayne Burton

David Wayne Burton July 26, 1943 – July 10, 2025 David “Dave” Wayne Burton passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, after a courageous, determined, and unwavering battle with pancreatic cancer for more than a year. He was 81 years old. Born on July 26, 1943, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, David was the son of Martin and Merna (Swan) Burton. He was raised on his family’s farm in Rice, MN, 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, building 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 22 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 was mechanically gifted and took great pleasure in sharing his knowledge and skills with others. He hosted open vehicle maintenance workshops in his garage, where friends, neighbors, and Model A enthusiasts gathered to learn, troubleshoot, and share their experiences. 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. David was a proud Navy veteran and lifetime member of the American Legion, Post #0382 in Sanford, NC. He was also an active member of many organizations, including the: – Model A Restorer’s Club – Model A Ford Club of America – MOOSE Fraternity Lodge 386 – Defenders of Wildlife – National Rifleman’s Association – North Carolina Wildlife Federation – Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation – National Wildlife Federation – National Parks Conservation Association He was preceded in death by his first 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. He will be remembered fondly by many people, including his stepdaughter Darleen “Darla” Kociemba (Floyd); grandsons Tyler and Jesse; and great-granddaughter Caroline, as well as his fiancée’s daughters, Anne Benson (Robert "Bobby") and Wanda Hall; her sons, Ellis Robert "Ray" Cannady, Jr. (Carolyn) and Jody Cannady (Melody); and grandchildren Erin Cass, Courtney Hall, Ashlyn Rubio (Kevin), Jacob Cannady, and Joshua Cannady. David’s legacy also lives on in the memories of his brothers: Walter Burton (Dorothy) of Rice, MN; Gary Burton (Dot) of Waite Park, MN; and Roger Burton (Colleen) of Rice, MN; and through his nieces and nephews: Sherri Yeager, Randy Burton, Christine Burton, Donna Griffin, and Michael Burton. Memorial Services: A memorial service in North Carolina will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Church, 185 Calvary Church Road, Olivia, NC 28368, led by Pastor Curtis Norris. A Celebration of Life in Minnesota will take place on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at VFW Post 6992, 901 N. Benton Dr., 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 (https://pancan.org). (rev. 7/27/25)