David was born on March 12, 1938 to Wilbert and Inga (Severson) Symens in Amherst, SD. He graduated from Amherst High School in 1956, attended one year of college at Northwestern College in Orange City, IA, and then completed the twoyear agricultural program at South Dakota State College in Brookings, SD in 1959.

David married Marjorie Jean Tenpas on December 28, 1960 in Sheboygan, WI. They lived and farmed in Amherst, SD until 1969. David then began his career in both farm implement sales and managing farm implement dealerships in Aberdeen, SD, Watertown, SD, and Kenyon, MN.

In addition to his interest in all things farm-related, David loved music, and he enjoyed singing in quartets and church choirs. Even as Alzheimer’s Disease advanced, David could be heard happily whistling hymns as he walked along.

David loved basketball, playing the sport in high school, college, and later in city leagues. David loved working with his hands, and had a natural talent for carpentry and woodworking. He enjoyed sharing his expertise in remodeling projects with family and friends, working on countless projects, from building a complete house to creating wooden toys for his grandchildren.

David had a quiet and kind spirit, and it showed in his care-giving qualities as he faithfully cared for his wife of 60 years, Marjorie, through her long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

David is survived by daughter Lauri (Jim) Hanson, and son Thomas (Jessica) Symens; grandchildren Caleb (Tara) Hanson, Bethany (Ben) Stein, Joseph (Megan) Hanson, Thane (Diana) Symens, Arden Symens, and Fitz Symens; and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Paul (Faye) Symens, John (Shirley) Symens, and sisters Aletha Prouty, Karen (Darrel) Jongeling, and Doris Symens Armstrong, along with brotherin-law Craig Schmidle. David was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marjorie, brothers Irwin Symens and Herman Symens, sister Fay Schmidle, brothers- in-law Jim Vivian, Carl Blok, LeMoyne Prouty, Gene Armstrong, and sisters-inlaw Diane Vivian, Dolores Blok, Cleo Symens and Judy Symens.

Services were held at Kozlak Radulovich Funeral Chapel in Blaine, MN. Interment will be at Amherst Cemetery in Amherst, SD on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.