David Dean Brakke, 81, passed away at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, S.D., on March 14, 2025 after a series of health issues. A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, April 25th at the American Lutheran Church in Presho, S.D.
David was born on September 16, 1943 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, to Andrew and Lura (Stephenson) Brakke. David grew up on the family farm after Andy and Lura returned from Washington state with brother Noble (where Lura’s parents had moved during the depression) in 1937 and purchased the L Walker place in 1939. David attended Walker school, grades 1-8 and graduated from Presho High School in 1961.
Always artistic, David attended Art School in Denver, CO, until he was drafted in the US Army in 1965. Among badges earned here was a sharpshooter badge for marksmanship for an M14. He was sent to Germany where he worked on Physop Magazine (military magazine). He returned home to Presho in April of 1967. A lifelong horse lover, he bought a new Ralph Shimon saddle (homemade in Brush, CO). He enrolled at SDSU in 1968, graduating with a degree in Animal Science in 1972.
While continuing to work on the ranch he also went to Kansas to Graham School where he learned to AI cows. Also, later the Jack Hedrick School for Stockmen came to the Gilman place and was also attended by David. In 1976, half of the cows were sold because it was such a dry year. David then went to Arizona for the winter to hone his roping skills, beginning as a calf roper and as he got older, he began to team rope. He made several trips to Oklahoma City to rope at the USTRC (US Team Roping Championships) as a class 4 roper. He also began to make western bronzes, being very meticulous. He returned to SD for a time after an altercation with a bull when he received a broken leg, while recuperating he made his first saddle, with many more to come under the name RO Saddle Co. He also did silver work.
Fast forward to 2016 when David bought a house in Arizona and lived there until 2021 when he moved back to SD. In 2022 he purchased a home across the street from his youngest brother Kim. David was a life member of USTRC and as a class 4 roper and a lifetime charter member of the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center and SD Farm Bureau.
David is survived by his sister Kay Calloway of Bay St. Louis, MS; brother Noble Brakke of Canby, MN; brother Kim (Donna) Brakke of Presho; numerous nieces and nephews: Neal, Sid, Jann, Joy, Jordon, Jamie, Anne, Evan, Blaine, Levi and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents Andy and Lura, sister-in-law Alys Ann Brakke, brother-in-law JD Callaway and niece Lauren Sue Miller
