David "Dave" Michael Shellhammer

In Loving Memory of David Shellhammer

With hearts full of love, we celebrate the life of Dave, who passed away Sept. 30 at the age of 63. Dave had undergone two weeks of treatment for leukemia when he came down with pneumonia and died.

Dave was the son of Keith Shellhammer and Connie Ferdig Shellhammer.  He had an older sister Kellie Stevens and a brother Randall Jones.  He graduated from North High School in 1981. He was on the swim team. He graduated from the University of South Dakota. 

He was a devoted husband, a proud dad to six children, and a loving grandpa—affectionately known as Papa D—to his five grandchildren, who brought endless joy to his life. To his family, he was a rock, a jokester, and a constant source of love and laughter.

Dave lived life with joy, humor, and a love for adventure. If there was water or snow involved, you could count on him being right in the middle of it, whether boating, skiing, or just enjoying the great outdoors. Some of his fondest memories were made at Blanche Lake in Battle Lake, Minn., where countless days of sunshine, laughter, and family fun created stories that will be remembered forever.

He had a quick wit, a big laugh, and a way of making everyone around him laugh, too. Whether it was teasing the kids, slipping in a perfectly timed one-liner, or laughing at his own jokes, he would always say: “If I don't mess with you and give you a hard time it means I don’t like you.”

Dave is survived by his loving wife Kim; his six children, John (Kassie), Brett (Jaclyn), Parker, Connor, Katie, and Cameron; grandchildren, Jett, Deacon, Quinn, Mila, and Charli; mother, Connie Shellhammer; aunt, Jan Shellhammer; brother, Randy Jones (Terri); sister, Kellie Stevens (Mike Duggan), niece, Jorden Shellhammer, and her children, Mackenzie, Madison, and Ryleigh. He also is survived by three dogs that he loved beyond measure, Lola, Stella, and Maggie.