Dennis Springer

Funeral service for Dennis Wayne Springer, 72, of Rock Springs, Wyoming will be 1:00 p. m. , Friday, October 28, 2011 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson. Graveside services and interment will follow in St. Joseph?s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation for Dennis will be from 12:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. , Thursday, October 27, 2011 at Stevenson Funeral Home with a rosary being said at 7:00 p. m. Visitation will continue on Friday from 9:00 a. m. until service time at Stevenson Funeral Home. Denny passed away peacefully on October 20, 2011 at the Rock Springs, Wyoming hospital after a lifelong struggle with traumatic brain injury, and, most recently cancer. Denny came into the world on March 2, 1939, the 2nd of nine children born to Wallace and Bernadine Springer in Hettinger, North Dakota. Denny grew up in Hettinger, a star student at HHS until his life was interrupted with a severe head injury playing sports. After graduating high school he lingered in the Hettinger area for a time, still recovering from major surgery due to his injury. Denny, ever the fighter, overcame enormous mental obstacles. He was a different person and a different personality to his family and friends. He was determined, however, to further his education. He first attended junior college in Richardton, ND, then attended and graduated from the Wahpeton School of Science in ND. Denny received his bachelor?s degree at Dickinson State College and master?s degree in elementary education at Northern State College. During this time he met and married Mary Schmitt, of Manning, ND on June 30th, 1970. After several years teaching in Linton, ND, Mary and Denny, with daughter Kim and young son, Kevin, moved to Wyoming, teaching remedial-kids in the Wyoming school system, both in Green River and in Torrington. When youngest son Christopher was born, Denny retired after 13 years teaching and returned to his home in Green River. Denny was an avid camper and outdoorsman. During his young years at home in Hettinger before he got hurt, he chased prairie dogs in the summer, pheasants in the fall, jackrabbits in the winter. Only Denny could cause 3 flat-tires at once on his Dad?s Jeep. He loved baseball; too, he even has a baseball that says ?To Dennis, from Babe Ruth ? 1948?. After coming to Wyoming, Denny spent autumn after autumn hunting elk and deer on the western slope of the Wind River Mountains. He treasured and used fully the custom rifles made for him by his rifle smith Dad. Denny is survived by his wife of 41 years, Mary, his three grown children, Kimberly Massey of Livingston, Texas, Kevin Springer of Vancouver, Washington, and Christopher Springer, also of Vancouver, his mother-in-law Christine Schmitt of Manning, ND, sister-in-law Martha (Joe) Knopik of Belfield, brother-in-law Pete (Darlene) Schmitt of Manning, sister-in-law Kathy (Zane) Kadrmas of Dickinson, his sisters Kaye (Allen) McIntyre of Hettinger, ND, Janys (Richard) Kruse of Bloomington, Minnesota, Leah (Jerry) Wells of Williston, ND, & Jacqueline (Steve) Hedstrom of Lodgepole, SD, brothers Jon (Janice) Springer, of Riverton, Wyoming, Steven (K Yong-Hui) Springer of Denver, Colorado, and Tom Springer of Hettinger, ND. Brother Mark preceded Dennis in death in 2006. Also, preceding him in death were his Mom and Dad, his uncles, aunts, and grandparents. Dennis and Mary were blessed with three grandchildren, Rainy, Jessica, & Gabrielle and two great-grandchildren, Sebastian and Delfino. We will miss Denny very much. He is testament to a beloved husband, father, brother and man who overcame such a great physical hardship we can only imagine, and succeed to a level beyond all prediction. We trust that Almighty God has received him into his kingdom with open arms, relieved of the body that troubled him all his life.


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Burial Date: October 28, 2011
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: Friday: Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, ND