1936 – 2013

NORFOLK, Neb. — David M. Bickford died peacefully at his home in Norfolk, Neb., on May 23.

David Merlin Bickford was born June 8, 1936, in Lewiston, the third child of Merlin Leslie Bickford and Helen Louise Hudson Bickford. He grew up in Lewiston and Auburn, and attended Auburn schools. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1953, and served in France and Germany during the Korean War. David married Rosalie Spady on July 3, 1954, and to this union five children were born: Mark, Rhonda, Kelly, Bruce and Karel-Lyn.

Following his discharge, David worked briefly at Sherher Department Store in Worcester, Mass., before returning to Auburn to work with his father at the Bickford Construction Company. In the early ’60s, he worked briefly in Lincoln, Neb., before settling in Sidney, Neb., where the young family could be closer to Rosalie’s relatives. David worked in the building trades, built the family home and was also an independent trucker for a time. He earned an associate of arts degree from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., in 1977 and received an honorable discharge from the Army National Guard in September 1978.

In 1980, David moved to Alliance, Neb., and established Dave’s Service, performing all sorts of carpentry, painting and handyman jobs in the area, until he was disabled by a stroke in 1995. He married Lois Boller on Jan. 3, 1991, and helped raised her two daughters, Sharlene and Ruthanne. After a series of health issues, David moved to Oddfellow-Rebekah Manor in Norfolk, Neb., in 2009, where he spent his retirement gardening and socializing with other tenants, especially the Bible study group.

David is survived by his ex-wives; sons, Mark (Lisa) and Bruce (Alesia); daughters, Rhonda (Bruce) St.Pierre and Karel-Lyn Goldsby; stepdaughters, Sharlene and Ruthanne; sisters, Carole Byrnes, Janice Bigelow and Sylvia Beaulieu; brother, Peter Spencer; and nine grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his son, Kelly (Terry).