David Pastian

A memorial service will be held, Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at Best Point Park, on Best Point Drive at Lake Madison, SD. A luncheon will follow at the Hillside Restaurant in Wentworth, SD. National Cremation of Phoenix, AZ, is in charge of arrangements. Dave was born in Burke, SD, on June 20, 1950, to Raymond and Ila (Whiting) Pastian. The family lived in Dallas, SD, and Dave graduated from Gregory High School in 1968. Dave excelled in athletics and played football, basketball, and track and field all through high school. He held the Gregory High School 100M dash record until 2021. He went on to play football for Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, as a running back. He made life-long friends while playing for the Gorillas and the Wolves. He achieved many football accomplishments, including being inducted into the South Dakota Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He even had a tryout with the Cleveland Browns in 1972. Dave said athletics instilled in him his work ethic and the competitive edge needed to be successful. He often said, “Teamwork is just as important in achieving success in business as it is in athletics.” His lifelong philosophy was, “There is no substitute for hard work.”

Dave had two sons, Ryan and Drew, and raised them in Aberdeen, SD. Dave was the Senior Pharmaceutical Representative for Wyeth Ayerst for ten years. In 1995, Dave moved to Sioux Falls, SD, to pursue his career as an orthopedic trauma consultant for Synthes. There he met Patricia (Fortuna) who is also from Gregory, and they were united in marriage on April 18, 1998. The couple resided in Milliken, CO, for 20 years. After a long and successful career, Dave retired from Synthes in 2015. The couple then moved their primary residence to Lake Madison, SD, and started splitting their time between South Dakota and Arizona every year. Over the years, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and spending time with friends and family.

David Henry Pastian, of Madison, SD, and Mesa, AZ, passed away, Monday, March 18, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Dave is survived by his wife, Patricia (Fortuna) Pastian; his two sons and their wives, Ryan (Jessica) Pastian and Nicholas (Grace) Benson; his daughter and her husband, Joy (Terry) Boon; ten grandchildren; siblings, Sally (Ron) Lampe, Dale (Madeline) Pastian, Marla (Jim) Cassidy, and Marcia (Dave) Wranek; as well as many nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives.

He is preceded in death by his son Drew Pastian and his parents Raymond and Ila Pastian.