On February 15, 1943, Dave was born in Montpelier, Idaho, near Bear Lake, where his parents said he learned to swim before he could walk.

Dave graduated in theatre arts from Weber State College. He worked at Ace Chevrolet in Soda Springs, Idaho and Hinckley Dodge in Ogden, Utah as a service manager. He developed a system, Shop Track, which was implemented by many automobile garages. He worked at Mountain Fuel Supply in Ogden as a service technician. In March of 1986 he became partner with Joe Timmons of Salt Lake City H-D and opened Harley-Davidson of northern Utah.

He was stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas during his time in the United States Air Force. He served two tours of duty in Viet Nam.

He lived in Soda Springs, Ogden, Roy Utah and Farr West Utah. He moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona in October 2002.

Dave loved his hot rods and Harleys.He enjoyed the times he got to go to lunch with the boys.

Dave was a member of the National Hot Rod Association and a life member of Harley Owners Club and the Stags Car Club. Dave had a short career in drag racing with the All Harley Drag Race Association. He retired from drag racing in 2001 and missed it every day thereafter.

He passed away on October 19, 2018. He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Nelda Roderick and his sister, Judith Swa.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lucy; his sons Curtis, Christian and Dale; his daughers Tangie, Delana, Mary and Tiffany; fourteen grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Dave wished that everyone would make donations to the Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude's Children' Research Hospital.