David Blackstead

David J. Blackstead, 97, passed away October 12, 2025, at a local care facility. 

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 North 4th Street, Bismarck. Please click on the link provided to view the service livestream ~ David Blackstead. A visitation will be from 5:00–7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide, Bismarck, and one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 210 62nd Ave NW, Minot.

David was born January 2, 1928, in Verendrye, ND to Helmer and Dorothy (Wolhowe) Blackstead. He was graduated from Velva High School in 1946 and attended Minot State Teacher’s College receiving his B.S. in Education in 1950 and in 1955 received an M.A. in School Administration from Northern Colorado University (Greeley). He taught and/or was principal/superintendent in Kremlin, MT, Glen Ullin, Medina and Center, ND.

He married Myrna Nelson on June 15, 1963, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot and celebrated their 62nd anniversary this year. They have a daughter, Stacy.

Dave was the station manager at KXMB-TV in Bismarck from 1960–1970. He was the Bismarck Public Schools business manager from 1971–1973 when he became an assistant superintendent until his retirement in 1990. He continued to be an education and finance consultant in retirement.

Dave was very active in the Lions Clubs International starting in 1953 and was a lifetime member. He served in many capacities in Capital City Lions. He served five years as chairman of the Lions All-Star Basketball games and was involved with it for 30 years. Some of his other associations were with the Bismarck United Way, Bismarck Public Schools school board, Bismarck Junior College, Civic Center Commission, Renaissance Commission, Salvation Army board of directors, and the Bismarck Centennial Celebration. He was also involved with the ND Commission on the Status of Women, the YMCA board of directors, the executive committee in the early years of the Bismarck Folkfest that included the Gumi Races on the river, the Missouri Valley Boy Scouts Council, an Elks Club life member, and the Wednesday Morning Retired Men’s Breakfast.

He served the Burleigh/Bismarck Planning Commissions for forty years and a room at the City/County building is named in his honor.

At Trinity Lutheran Church, he served as head usher for many years organizing usher teams and served on the Board of Trustees for five years becoming president of the board in his fifth year.

Dave and Myrna enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes and especially enjoyed entertaining for holidays and celebrations. He compiled a cookbook of favorite recipes for a limited number of delighted family and friends. He was a very supportive fan of local high school athletics and activities, the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony, the Broadway shows and Dakota Stage plays. He was an avid deer hunter with the same group of friends for many years in the Badlands.

He is survived by his wife, Myrna and daughter, Stacy Blackstead, both of Bismarck; his brother and sister-in-law Howard and Kathy of Bismarck and Denver, CO; sister-in-law Marlys Rodahl of Minot; nieces: Alexis Blackstead of Denver, CO, Londa Rodahl of Bismarck, Marcia (Sam) Haro of Williston, and Nola (Dave) Levison of Missoula, MT; nephews: Caryln Rodahl of Farmington, NM, and Terry Rodahl of Minot. He is also survived by five great-nieces, one great-nephew and one great-great-nephew.

David was preceded in death by his parents and sister and brother-in-law Connie and John Boler, his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

The family prefers memorials to organizations or charities of donor choice.