Captain David Thomas Lambers Obituary
Captain David Thomas Lambers, aged 36, passed away from complications of Lung Cancer, on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, WA.
A celebration of life will be held on December 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Exhibition Hall at the Fair Grounds, with a graveside memorial to follow at Highland Cemetery. There will be a reception following the graveside at the Elks Club in Great Falls.
David was born on January 19, 1987, to Suzanne Becker and August G. Lambers in Cincinnati, OH. David lived for a short time in Alaska and grew up in Bozeman, MT where he graduated from Bozeman High School. David was second-team all-state choice in Class AA at both offensive and defensive line. He signed up to play football at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT. He received a scholar athlete award from the Montana Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2009. He earned the athletic department’s President’s Award in 2010. David graduated from Rocky with a degree in exercise science and was on the Academic All-Conference team for four consecutive seasons.
David joined the Army in June of 2011 as a firefighter and recently transferred to the Air Force in March of 2023. David moved to Great Falls in January 2013 to further pursue his dreams as a firefighter where he was hired at MANG, Montana Air National Guard.
David married his best friend and the love of his life, April Lynn Cripps on September 26, 2015. Together they have two wonderful children, Noah, age 6 and Natalie, age 4. David loved spending time with his wife and children, they are the reason he fought so hard to keep living. David was a real-life hero to his wife and kids. He also loved animals and owned a few throughout his life with the most recent being two cats, Zaptorman and Thor.
Elaborating on how amazing David was would take an eternity, but here are just a few. He cared about everyone he came across and did his best to make them feel that way. His smile would brighten up any room and bring a smile to others. He loved April with all his heart. When he looked at her, she knew she was his one and only. He especially loved whisking his April away on intimate trips or dates. He brought the cool, calm, and relaxed voice of reason to their marriage. His children were his purpose in life. David loved to take his children on explorations and adventures. David loved being a dad, wrestling with his kids, listening to them laugh, reading to them, playing board or video games (Mario), or dolls and unicorns, watching movies or cartoons, helping with homework, being a big kid with them and just being with them. David loved making memories with his wife and kids whether it was at home or on vacation or anywhere for that matter. Later in life, David enjoyed cooking and became pretty darn good at it. He experimented with the barrel smoker and shared his favorite BBQ ribs with family and friends. He learned how to BBQ a medium rare steak just to put a smile on his wife’s face. He also loved his wife’s cooking and usually ate too much.
David had his own sense of logic, which would often lead others to the same conclusions as his. David had a refined taste, or so he thought, especially when it would come to a good IPA. His friends would describe him as smart, daring, relaxed, ready for a good time, loyal, adventurous, competitive, compassionate, brave and fierce. He liked to joke around, play pranks, and do things just to get a reaction out of people. Some days David was like a child trapped in an adult body and other days his older, wiser, more sophisticated self would come out. He loved relaxing by hanging out with friends and family, having a beer or two and playing video games (Smite and Call of Duty were his favorites). Somedays, it was the company of the guys on the mic that he liked more than the actual game. He loved being outdoors, golfing, boating, camping, skiing, hiking, and playing sports. David enjoyed placing an occasional $20 spot into a machine with a friend in hopes of coming out ahead. He was also very competitive and hated losing, whether it was playing the on the X-Box or computer or watching the Montana State Bobcats or Cincinnati Bengals. David wasn’t afraid to place a friendly wager on a game. He was treasured and loved by so many. His place on this earth is irreplaceable.
In high school David enjoyed volunteering at Eagle Mount. Aside from the differences he made in the lives of those he helped through Eagle Mount, one of his greatest joys was meeting April at a fundraiser, the Margarita Meltdown, for Eagle Mount in Great Falls. David also loved volunteering for school activities and sports that his children were involved in.
David had a work hard, play harder attitude and work ethic. He gave all he had when he worked to make sure his family was taken care of and provided for. He played even harder, making the most of playing with his kids and wife or hanging out with his friends and family. David had a big heart, and no one knew that more than his friends and family. David put his heart and soul into everything he did, from being a friend, supporting his wife, cheering his kids on, to his job, working out, playing games, and just living his life to the fullest. David left us way too soon; he had a lot of living left to do.
David accumulated several brothers throughout his short life. Whether they were friends from childhood, college, football, video gaming, or the military and firefighting. Each one had their purpose, and when they got together it was like no time had passed at all. He treated his brothers and sisters like close friends and his close friends like family.
David was preceded in death by his biological father, August G. Lambers; grandparents Joann and August H. Lambers; uncle, Doug Lambers; grandfather, Earl Ringo; aunt, Karalee Mulkey; step-grandparents, Arthur & Ann Joy Becker; and step-uncle, Robert Becker.
David is survived by his wife, April Lambers; two children, Noah and Natalie Lambers; parents, Sue and Don Becker; brothers, August J. (Erica) Lambers and Matthias (Kate) Becker; sisters, Kristin (Steven) Costle and Leah Becker; grandma, Lois Ringo; as well as numerous aunts; uncles; cousins; nieces; and nephews from the Ringo, Lambers and Becker Families. He is also survived by his friends and his Fire Fighter and Military Families.
In lieu of flowers please send memorials to Schnider Funeral Home (1510 13th St S) which will be forwarded to the family home.
