David Edward Ingalls

May 2, 1937- May 27, 2024

Dave was born in Skagway, Alaska on May 2, 1937 to Donald and Haleen Ingalls. He was a fifth generation Alaskan, and a second generation born Alaskan, as his mother was born in Skagway in 1912. Dave lived in Homer, Alaska for the first four years of his life. In 1941 he moved with his family to Palmer, where he resided for the rest of his life.

After graduating from the new Palmer High School in 1955, he attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. For several years he surveyed for the Alaska Road Commission doing survey work for the roads in Southcentral Alaska. In 1960 he married Charlotte Campbell and they had two boys, David, and Kent. In 1961 Dave went to work for Matanuska Electric Association. He worked for MEA for 35 years, retiring in 1996.

Dave was a tireless volunteer. He coached and umpired for both Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball, as well as refereed for youth football in Palmer. He spent countless hours maintaining the ball fields that those teams played on. Dave volunteered for the Ski Patrol at Independence Mine Ski Resort for many years until it closed. He was elected to the Palmer City Council in 1972 and served until 1984 when he decided not to run for reelection. He was elected to the Board of Directors for the Alaska State Fair in 1991 and served until 2000.

Dave joined the Loyal Order of Moose in Palmer in 1977 and volunteered his time freely, helping the Palmer Moose Lodge serve the community of Palmer by sponsoring youth sports teams, and supporting the Boy Scouts and many other community organizations and events. He was the Governor of the Palmer Lodge three different times. In 2003 Dave received the Pilgrim Degree of Merit – the highest honor in the Loyal Order of Moose – for his outstanding service. He was the President of the Alaska Hawaii Moose Association in 2003. In 2018 Dave was recognized by Moose International with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Fishing and hunting were two things Dave loved to do. He spent many days fishing on the Kenai and Deshka Rivers, and Silver Salmon fishing in Valdez. Over the years he put many moose and caribou in the freezer for his family to live off throughout the winter.

In 1987 Dave married the love of his life Sandy Perdue and they were married for 37 incredible years. For many years they lived on a small farm near Bodenburg Butte, raising chickens, turkeys, goats, and horses, including miniature horses. They loved traveling to see family and visiting new places. Their favorite place to visit was Kihei, Maui where they met many new friends, and shared many memories with family.

In 2017 Dave moved into the Palmer Pioneer Home where he lived until his death. He enjoyed roaming about the facility and grounds, and bantering with the amazing staff that helped take such good care of him and the other residents.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Haleen and Donald Ingalls, brother Donald Rodney Ingalls, and grandson David Randall Ingalls.

He survived by his wife Sandy, brother Hal, sons David and Kent, grand-children Donald, Jordan, Ethan, and Emma, great-grandson Camden, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Services will be held on June 30 at 2:00 PM at the Palmer Moose Lodge.