Dave was born Oct. 11, 1939, to Leroy and Beatrice (Bidwell), in Fairmont, Minn. Dave attended school in Fairmont, graduating in 1957. He was very active in sports through his high school years with his best friend Bruce Burton. He was co-captain of the football team under 1st-year head coach Tom Mahoney. Dave also excelled in track and field, where he broke many records. He was referred to by the Fairmont Sentinel as “The Speed Merchant,” Dave Bennett.

Upon graduation from high school, Dave earned a scholarship to the University of Minnesota. After a year at Minnesota, he transferred to Colorado to play football for the University of Colorado at Boulder. Immediately after college, he decided to join the Navy, following in his brother Wayne’s footsteps. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Dave pursued his dream and moved to California to attend Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. His goal was to become an industrial designer in the hopes of ultimately designing his other passion – automobiles. Dave met his wife (Kay) and mother of his two children in Pasadena. In 1965, Dan was born in Burbank, Calif.

The family moved to Dearborn, Mich., when Dave got a job designing cars for Ford Motor Company. Some designs of note included the limousine President Nixon used during his presidency. In 1967, Peter was born here in Michigan.

After Dave’s stint with Ford, the family moved to warmer pastures back in Southern California where Kay worked as a nurse and Dave worked for an industrial design firm designing projects like San Francisco’s BART train.

Dave decided he wanted another challenge and moved the family to Seattle, Washington, working for a design firm who had contracts with Boeing. Some designs of note included the Shah of Iran’s private suite onboard his luxury airplane. Dave passed down his love of art to his son Peter and granddaughters Faith, Chloe and Emma, all of whom are exceptionally talented. He was so proud of them. After four years in Washington, the family moved back to San Diego, where the boys finished up high school and went on to college.

After 20+ years in San Diego, Dave decided his heart was back in Fairmont, so he packed up the car and took a road trip with best bud Teddy (dog). He bought a house close to his childhood home in Fairmont; he loved being close to his sister Sandy and brother-in-law Norm. As life does, time wore on Dave, and he made the decision to move closer to his son Dan in Orlando, Fla. Dave was able to watch his granddaughter Faith grow up, attend special family events and enjoy time on the lakes, riding bikes, playing scrabble, and going to car shows.

Dave was a fighter; 25+ years ago he lost his right leg below the knee to an aggressive form of cancer, this never slowed him down. Up until his late seventies, he was still riding his road bike 10+ miles 3 times a week. He mowed his own lawn, helped his son with yard work and DIY projects, and walked little Teddy every day. His son Dan never heard one complaint about the difficulties of living with one leg. People would ask Dave – Hey Mister how did you lose your Leg? Dave’s reply was “I didn’t lose it I know right where it is” ……………..always got a laugh.

Dave’s “later year” interests lay in reading the newspaper cover to cover every morning, riding his bike, watching Minnesota football and fishing. He often lied about the size of the fish he caught in the past (I guess we all do). He absolutely LOVED cars; not many went by that he didn’t know what make and model they were.

If you asked Dave, we don’t think he would say he had any life regrets. He enjoyed his later years putzing around and had the love of his boys, granddaughters and extended family, what more could you want in life?

Dan and Dave developed a special bond over the last 5 years of his life when he moved down to Florida to be closer; we are so happy that happened and we were able to make his last years comfortable and surrounded by the joy of family.

Dave always had a story. These, and he, will be missed by many. A celebration of life will be planned in Fairmont, Minn., for family and friends later this summer.

Please say a prayer, enjoy a memory and raise a Mickey’s Big Mouth beer to father, brother, uncle and friend, David Ward Bennett #32.

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