Fr. David Syverson
June 13, 1966 ~ February 14, 2012
Fr. David Bryan Syverson, 45, Carrington, passed away Tues., Feb 14, 2012, in Fargo, ND. He was born June 13, 1966, in Bismarck, ND.
He attended Steele-Dawson High School in Steele, ND, graduating with honors in 1984. He then attended North Dakota State University, Fargo, graduating in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in nutrition and food science. Following graduation, he worked for the Beatreem Food Corporation in Beloit, WI.
In 1993 he began his studies for the priesthood at Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo, graduating in 1995. He continued his formation for the priesthood at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO., where he earned his master's of divinity degree in 1999. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1999, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo by Bishop James Sullivan.
Father Dave served as a priest at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo, St. Maurice's in Kindred, St. Patrick's in Wishek, St. Boniface's in Kintyre, St. Philip Neri's in Napoleon, Holy Cross in West Fargo, Sacred Heart in Carrington and St. Elizabeth's in Sykeston. He also served on the diocesan Communications Board and College of Consultors.
Fr. Dave was an avid sportsman. He loved hunting, bow hunting and fishing. He dearly loved the outdoors. He adored his nieces and nephews: Jaclyn, Michelle, Michael, Erin, Abby, Christopher, Dawn, Jarek, Joshua and Alyssa and his step-nephew and step-niece, Nicholos and Richelle.
Fr. Dave is survived by his mother, Virginia Syverson; brothers, Gary (Shelly) Syverson, Jon (Lorelei) Syverson, and sister, Linda (Jeremy) Paschke and his dearly loved cat Buddha.
He was preceded in death by all four grandparents and his father, Marlin Syverson.
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ArizonaMonsignor Val Gross and Fr. Syverson were instrumental in my going through RCIA and joining the Church in 2000. I was so saddened to hear of Fr. Syverson’s passing.
What I will always remember about him was his wonderful sense of humor and his total devotion to the Eucharist. We will all miss him greatly.
Fargo ND
Our deepest sympathies to the family of Fr. Syverson. We were so sad to hear of his death and you are in our prayers. Fr. Syverson baptized our youngest son, Sean in September of 1999 at Sts Anne & Joachim Church, shortly after being ordained a priest. We loved Fr Syverson and are saddened that he was suffering so much. He lives on in all the people he impacted in his life and we will not forget his kind and loving spirit! Our intention is to make a donation to First Choice Clinic in his memory.
God Bless!
Todd & Laurie Braun
Jesse, Eric, Tanner, & Sean
McKinney TexasI knew David from college days where we had some very memoable experiences. I was very happy to hear David had put Christ at the forefront of his life. I am very saddened by his passing and my thoughts and prayers go out to all of his family, friends and all of those whose lives were touched by him. He will be missed but as I read through the comments, what a legacy he has left behind, it would be a blessing that we could have half that ourselves!
Fargo ND
Fr. Dave will always be remembered in our prayers. He was so very loveable and so very loved. Now he knows just how very much Jesus loves him. Rest now in peace, my friend.
Casselton ND
Father Dave was the Pastor at Holy Cross while I was going through RCIA. He played an important part in my journey, and he will definitely be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
Bismarck North Dakota
Severson Family,
I met your family through the eyes of Marlyn, your husband and father, when I took my first job for NRCS. Marlin and I were “buds” we drove for hours in Kidder County checking CRP, staking dougouts, checking trees, etc. Oh my, Marlyn was my best friend. He told me stories about his kids all the time. When they went to the mall and he would act up so no one in his family would claim him or the kids:)
Marlyn is reunited with his son and I KNOW THEY WILL ALWAYS BE SMILING DOWN AT THEIR FAMILY, EVERY SINGLE DAY. I think about your family always.
Karen
Grenora ND
JMJ+
Fr Dave was a dear and awesome friend in college! He was always very willing to give of himself. He was kind, thoughtful, funny, loving and I am sure that Jesus has wrapped him in His loving, merciful arms…for the Gospel tells us we will be judged on love and Fr Dave LOVED many and gave of himself to the fullest extent. Thank Fr Dave for being an amazing friend to so many! I will cherish our friendship always! Till we meet again in Heaven…your friend, Corrie Maria
Larimore North Dakota
I really didn’t know David that well. I met him through his grandmother, Luella. He was very quiet but friendly. You couldn’t help but like him. It just doesn’t seem right that someone so young and likable and doing God’s work should be gone already. I pray the family will find peace in all the good David did and was. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Love,
Carol
Minot ND
We watched David grow up in Steele. He touched many lives and we know
that he will be missed by all who know
him.
Fargo ND
I first met Fr Dave at Sts Anne and Joachim Church. It was his first assignment. Later I attended Church of the Cross in West Fargo where he served. I enjoyed his avid love of nature and hunting. May his soul rest in peace. I was saddened and shocked at his passing.
Strasburg ND
I join all Father Dave’s family and friends in commending him to the eternal love and mercy of the Father.
We are all grateful for his faithful priestly ministry and his loving service of all those whom he was called to serve during his priestly life. May he rest in God’s peace. With prayerful sympathy to all the members of his family. In the Risen Christ whose promise of resurrection we all cling to in this very sad time. A brother priest — Father Albert R. Leary
Lovelock NVOur deepest sympathy to the Syverson family.
West Fargo ND
Father Dave was at Holy Cross Church when we moved to West Fargo. I enjoyed his sermons …and how he would share so much of his personal life with all of us. We looked forward to each and every Mass with him. I know he truly missed his dad, and I could relate to his great loss for I had just lost my father and mother a short time before we met. And how our lives change when we experience these great losses….as you do today. He has been a blessing to everyone who was fortunate to have him touch their lives. Many thoughts and prayers go your way today, tomorrow, and for the months ahead. God has him in his arms now.
Casselton, ND
My sincere sympathy to the family of Fr. Syverson. I knew him when he was just getting started as a priest at Sts. Anne & Joachim. He was a good man and my prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Bismarck ND
David was a very dear friend, we grew up together and had more fun than I could ever attempt to remember. He was a good friend and always there if you needed a friend. David will be missed, we need more people like David in this world.
I will see you again someday old friend…
Greg
Fargo ND
I can not believe I just talked to Father Dave a week ago and today I have learned of his passing. I was lucky in that I was able to see the sportsman side of Father Dave. Working at Scheels, I was able to talk guns, archery, and hunting in general with Father Dave. He always had a smile on his face, and always had some great stories to share. He loved trading guns, always looking for the next favorite rifle. I know he will be missed by all he came in touch with.
mandan ND
I GREW UP WITH DAVID AND HIS BROTHER JON AS KIDS WE HAD A HAPPY LIFE. WE WILL MISS HIM DEARLY. ALL OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY
Park Rapids Minnesota
2/19/’12 My Heartfelt prayers and sympathies to The Syverson Families on their loss of one who was well loved and enjoyed life. I first met Fr. Dave when I stayed at Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo, North Dakota
. I found him to be a delightful and kind man with a beautiful smile as bright as the sunshine and that sparkled like the stars. His love for Gods People was very evident. It is always so hard to take when the Lord calls one of his servants “HOME” so early in their lives but we must all be entrusted to God that He did have a reason for taking Fr. Dave so early in his young life. Please know that I will keep you all in my prayers and thoughts during the weeks and months ahead. Godspeed Fr. Dave and May You Rest In Gods Heavenly Home Forever. “Go Rest High On That Mountain” Fr. Dave!! With Heartfelt Prayers and Sympathies and Gods Blessings, Mark J. VonBank-Park Rapids, Minnesota
.
Wishek ND
Our deepest Condolences. Father Dave was not only our priest but our friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time.
West Fargo ND
Father Dave was great. He always made mass an hour to look forward to. He will be missed, but know he will continue to do great work in his next appointment. The ice fishing and hunting will be better where you are at now Dave.
The Sahli’s
West Fargo
Thermopolis WYMy sincere condolences to the family and friends of Fr. Syverson. May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve his loss. I first met Fr. Dave when he was a seminarian. I appreciated his sharing with me his spiritual journey to commiting his life to the Lord, his call to the Catholic Faith, and his call to priesthood.
Fargo ND
I only knew Fr. Dave from the time when he was pastor at Napoleon. I knew he loved and was loved by the people there. They saw him as one of them. The teenagers always gave him high-5 signs after church. His love for them made them want to come to church.
Burnstad ND
Fr. Dave also served at St. Claire’s church in Burnstad. Our deepest sympathies go out to him and his family.
Carrington ND
I will always appreciate Father Dave for his work her at Sacred Heart. I have thought of him often over these past few months. He was in my thoughts and prayers. I will miss him.
Wishek ND
We were deeply saddened to hear of Fr. Dave’s passing. During his short stay here in Wishek he not only became our pastor but also a close family friend. Not only was he well liked by our own parishioners but was regarded highly by other faithful as well. He was truly a special and gifted individual. We will truly miss his annual hunting trips to our farm in which he took such delight.
Napoleon North Dakota
We loved Father Dave and we will deeply miss him.
Napoleon ND
Our hearts are deeply saddened by the loss of Fr. Dave. He was very caring and helpful when asked for advice, giving concrete, useful information. He would hunt on our land, and our sons spoke easily with him on many topics. Fr. Dave came back to Napoleon to celebrate the weekend masses occasionally (also to hunt), and we all appreciated his warm, accepting smile and down-to-earth homilies. We are grateful to Fr. Dave for his assistance in our time of need and feel blessed to have shared in his life. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and religious community. May Fr. Dave rest in peace.
Manhattan KansasWords cannot express how much Father Dave will be missed. As a new priest he shared his personal testimony with the Young Disciples Team in Napolean. It left a deep impression on us Team members and on the teens at the mission. It was an honor to have known him. Our deepest sympathy to his mother and siblings.
Kintyre ND
58549MY heart is heavy as I send my condolences to you in your loss of Fr. Dave. As I picture his casket setting in the same funeral parlor as my little brother’s did when he died suddenly at age 48, twenty years ago, I feel your sorrow even more.
My forever vision of Fr. Dave, I’m sure, will be the one of him one night when he was back in the Napoleon area to hunt and came to St. Boniface to offer the Sat. night mass. I was seated in the rear of the church with one leg in a cast and propped on a folding chair. I can still see that orange, blood spattered sweathshirt and blood droplets on his hands when he stopped to chat with me and said,”I’ll bring communion back to you”. He may have loved to hunt, but his love of the eucharist was even stronger. Thank you, Fr. Dave, for making it available to me that evening.
Thnak you Mrs. Syverson for sharing your son with us.
Tony & I both pray for his eternal peace and ask our Father to embrace your family as you mourn the loss of Fr. Dave.
Fargo ndFr. Dave was pastor when I was at Holy Cross. What a loss to all of us.
Sorry I cannot attend the funeral as we are still in Arizona.
Larimore ND
The world lost a very kind and interesting man when Father Dave passed. His wedding day homily was one of my all-time favorites and has stuck with me to this day. I feel I am a better man for having known him. Rest in peace
Steele Thank you Father Dave for making sure both my children were baptised – so glad you spent the summer of 96′ in the Steele parish. I wish I would of told you of how I appreciated all your work and your kind words. Keeping the family in my prayers. He was a kind man.
Fargo ND
I met Fr. David before he was a priest at Cardinal Menuch Seminary while he and I were taking classes for the Befriender Program under the Nativity Church. Can’t remember the year. He was a kind and warm young man, who seemed so devout in his Catholic faith as I was. Sorry about your loss and Fr. David will be deeply in my prayers for God to bring him to Him, in heaven.
We are saddened by the loss of Father Dave. He was our priest in Napoleon at St. Philip Neri and near Kintyre at St. Boniface for about a year. We learned so much from his homilies, he was great with the kids of the parish, and his always present smile and joy radiated throughout the parish. We will miss seeing him during his yearly hunting visits to Napoleon. Our prayers are with Father Dave and his family and friends. We miss him.
Carrington ND
We are thankful to God that he gave us Fr. Dave, even if it was for a short time. He provided both joy and comfort to us while he was here.
Fr. Dave started several Bible studies while here, along with a wonderful MOMS group, that I am blessed to be a part of. He enjoyed interacting with our youth and blessed us with his wonderful sense of humor.
He truly was a kind, caring man! He will be remembered always in our hearts and prayers!
Hyattsville MDOur deepest condolences. Father Syverson was a wonderful priest. He was so good to our “little parish.” He was also a delight to work for from the diocescan office. He will be sorely missed. Be assured of our prayers for you and your family.
West Fargo Father Dave married my wife and me in 2003 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in West Fargo. He also confirmed me as a Catholic in West Fargo. Then three years later, he performed my son’s baptism also at Holy Cross. We very much appreciated his honest approach to the homily and that he was easily approachable. I learned great things from him in all three celebrations. I, especially, loved his passion for the outdoors. We will all miss him greatly.
The Bryant Family
Steele ND
We were deeply saddened when we read of David’s passing. Please know that we will hold all of you in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Death leaves a heartache on one can heal, but love leaves memories no one can steal. Keep all your special memories close to your hearts. With care and understanding, John and Ardyce
Carrington ND
Words simply cannot express our sadness at the loss of Fr. Dave.
He officiated at our wedding and also at my Uncle’s funeral. While we both always enjoyed having Fr. Dave as our pastor, those were two days we felt particularly blessed to have his support and guidance.
We will remember his humor during marriage prep (and even during the wedding!), his comforting words at a time of tremendous loss, and his kindness towards us and our entire family.
Fr. Dave’s life truly made an impact on our lives and on our faith and for that we will be forever grateful.
He will be missed and remembered always.
Sara & Dean Pennington
Minot ND
Know of my prayers for Fr. Syverson and those who morn his lose
Fr. David Syverson was an amazing man, he was my uncle… I will miss him dearly.. it has been almost 4 years now…. It still hurts everyday… But I know I will see him again one day.
Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord, may Fr Dave rest in peace.