David Lee Palser passed away on September 7, 2026, just a few weeks shy of his 99th birthday.

David was born September 27, 1927, on a farm south of Big Springs, Nebraska, to George Neal  and Mary Blanche Palser. The values he learned growing up on the family farm—faith, hard work, perseverance, and devotion to family—remained at the center of his life.

David graduated from Big Springs High School in 1945 and later attended and graduated from Southwestern Bible Institute in Waxahachie, Texas. It was there that he met the love of his life, Carolyn Fightmaster. David and Carolyn married and shared 76 years together, building a life grounded in faith, family, and love. Carolyn passed away on July 28, 2026, just six weeks before David.

Together, David and Carolyn raised three children: Larry, Peggy, and Barbara.

David loved three things deeply and faithfully throughout his life: his Savior, Jesus Christ; his family; and farming. Farming was more than an occupation to David—it was a way of life. He farmed alongside his parents, his brother Robert, and later his son Larry. Through changing seasons, good years and difficult ones, he remained connected to the land and to the family with whom he shared the work.

Even after his days of actively farming were behind him, David never lost interest in what was happening in agriculture. He enjoyed going to breakfast at Mom's Kitchen Cafe and Five Star where he could visit with family and friends to keep up on the latest happenings in farming. Those breakfasts gave him an opportunity to stay connected to the community and to the way of life he loved so much.

Music was another lifelong love. At an early age David learned to play the saxophone and continued playing throughout his life. His saxophone went with him into assisted living and later to the nursing home, where music continued to bring him—and those around him—great joy. It was one more way David shared a part of himself with others, and something he continued to enjoy even in the later chapters of his life.

Above all, David was a man of faith. His love for his Savior, Jesus Christ, guided the way he lived his life and cared for his family. His parents gave him the nickname "Preacher," a name that proved fitting throughout his life. David faithfully served as a speaker for the Gideons, visiting local churches and sharing the message of his faith. He had a special ability to blend two of the great loves of his life—farming and preaching—often drawing upon the lessons of the land and the experiences of a farmer as he spoke about his faith and his Savior.

David also faithfully gave of his time, talent, and treasure to the churches that were an important part of his life. He was especially devoted to the Big Springs Assembly of God Church, where he served as a worship leader for over 30 years, a Sunday School teacher, and as a board member who generously contributed his abilities and resources during the building of a new church. In later years, he continued that same faithful commitment to the Akron Foursquare Church. For David, faith was more than something he professed; it was something he lived through service, generosity, and a willingness to help wherever he was needed.

David also believed in serving his community. He served as a member of the Big Springs school board during an important time in the community's history—the planning and construction of a new school. His service reflected the same qualities that shaped the rest of his life: a willingness to accept responsibility, work alongside others, and invest in something that would benefit generations to come.

His faith sustained him throughout his nearly 99 years and gave him the assurance that death was not the end, but a homecoming.

David is survived by his daughters, Peggy and Barbara (Terry) Petty; his grandchildren, Beth (Joshua) Wells, Tami (Tyson) Lambertson, Scott (Allison) Palser, Jana (Michael) McCroden, Tara Petty, and Tyler (Laura) Petty; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and his special nephews, Jerry, Leonard, and Rodney Palser, who held a special place in his life and heart.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carolyn; his son, Larry and daughter-in-law Linda; his parents, George Neal and Mary Blanche Palser; beloved brother Robert and his wife Bonnie, nephew Harvey Jencks, and all his siblings and their spouses as well as other relatives and friends.

David leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured simply in years, although he was blessed with many. His legacy lives in the family he loved, the land he worked, the music he played, the churches he served, and the faith he carried throughout his life.

After 76 years of marriage and only a short time apart, David and Carolyn are together again. For those who loved him, there is comfort in knowing that David finished his earthly journey with the same faith that guided his life, and that he is now Home with his Savior.

David's life will be celebrated on Monday, September 21, 2026 at 1:00 pm at the Akron Foursquare Church in Akron, Colorado.   Graveside service and burial will be held at the Big Springs, Nebraska Cemetery at 4:00 pm.

Memorial funds have been established in David's honor at the Akron Foursquare Church and the Big Springs Assembly of God Church to support their missions programs.