Dr. David A. Rempel, 75, passed away surrounded by those who loved him. He was born on December 23, 1950, in Vermillion, South Dakota, to Leland and Dolores Rempel. He grew up in Sioux Falls, graduated from Lincoln High School, attended the University of South Dakota, and later earned his dental degree from Creighton Dental School in Omaha, Nebraska.

David found his calling in dentistry after having a root canal in the ninth grade. He knew then that he wanted to work in a field where he could provide that same kind of relief to others.

David began practicing dentistry in Parker, South Dakota, in 1977. In 1984, he moved his practice to Tea, where he remained until 1994. He then moved to Rapid City and worked with Ray Dental Clinic until 2004. He later joined Dr. Jackson’s team in Belle Fourche before returning to private practice in 2006. David was also blessed to have worked with the team at Unkenholz Family Dental. After a brief attempt at retirement, David began working with the South Dakota prison system in 2023. He also had the privilege of working at Chanku Waste at their wellness center. This is where his profession and calling truly shined. He was honored to be able to serve.

For nearly 50 years, David genuinely loved what he did and the people he was able to help. He did not just view dentistry as his profession; he believed it was his calling. His practice eventually focused on dentures and partials, and he became the dentist other providers turned to when cases were particularly challenging. Those were the cases in which David truly shined. He loved finding solutions and helping people regain the ability to eat, speak, smile, and live with greater confidence.

David was blessed with many talented team members throughout his career and was deeply grateful for the incredible patients who trusted him. He never lost sight of the privilege of being able to help others.

While dentistry was an important part of David’s life, his family was his greatest joy.

David married Patti (Martin) Rempel in 1977, and together they built a life filled with love, family, friendship, and adventure. David loved his children deeply and was always supportive of their interests and dreams. He encouraged them to pursue the things that mattered to them and was proud to watch them build lives of their own.

Then came the grandchildren—and David became an Opa.

He absolutely adored his grandkids. He was an amazing Opa who could rarely resist spoiling them a little more than their parents thought was necessary. His children sometimes found his approach to grandparenting to be a parenting challenge of its own. David simply loved being their Opa, and his grandchildren knew without a doubt how much they were loved.

Generosity was one of the defining qualities of David’s life. He gave freely of his time, his knowledge, his resources, and, most importantly, himself. Helping others came naturally to him. He was the kind of person who would give without wanting anything in return.

David also had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved a good joke—although he was notoriously terrible at telling one. He would become excited to share a joke he had recently heard, only to accidentally give away the punchline before getting to the setup. Somehow, this usually made the story even funnier.

He was exceptionally well-read and seemed to know a fact or two about almost everything. David was endlessly curious and loved learning, sharing what he knew, and engaging in conversation. If there was something he didn’t know, he was excited to learn more.

David loved the outdoors and enjoyed backpacking, hiking, and riding his bicycle. His hikes often took unexpected turns because he always seemed to know a “shortcut,” which had a remarkable tendency to add several miles to the journey. For those who traveled with him, the extra miles became part of the story—and part of the memories they will carry with them.

David and Patti also loved to travel, both together and with friends. They shared a lifetime of adventures, exploring new places and creating lasting memories along the way. The way he loved Patti was a powerful example for his children to witness.

David’s legacy extends far beyond his nearly 50 years in dentistry. It lives on in the people he loved, the lives he touched, and the memories he created.

We watched David live out the second greatest commandment found in Mark 12:31: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” David accomplished this by never losing sight of the greatest commandment—to love God above all others. His love for God was the foundation from which he loved his family, served his patients, gave generously to others, and lived his life.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Leland & Dolores Rempel, his sister Patricia Rempel and his brother Don Rempel.

David is survived by his beloved wife of nearly five decades, Patti; his children, Lee Rempel (Amy), Anne Herb (Brad), and Jenne Stensland (Craig); his grandchildren, Andrew, Isaiah, Alice, Tegan, and Keziah ; and his sister Carol Rempel Simmons.

He will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father, amazing Opa, dedicated dentist, generous friend, curious mind, outdoor adventurer, and a man who genuinely wanted to make life better for the people around him.

David will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered.

A memorial fund has been established to continue David’s impact on the dental field and carry forward the calling he so deeply loved. David had a goal of practicing dentistry for 50 years, and while he did not quite reach that milestone, we hope to continue his work by helping provide the gift of a healthy, confident smile to those who otherwise may not have the opportunity. More information about the memorial fund can be found at:

https://dar-smiles.my.canva.site/

A time to gather, share stories, and remember David will be held on Friday, September 18, from 4:30–6:30 p.m.

David’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 19, at 10:30 a.m.

Both gatherings will be held at Hills View E-Free, 13776 Sturgis Road, Piedmont, SD 57769.

The family invites everyone to join them for lunch and fellowship following the Celebration of Life.

The service will be live streamed, the link will be provided the morning of the celebration of life.