" On April 27th, 2023, Gary David Porter - commonly called David or Dave by his friends and family - went fishing. He gathered his best rods, loaded his tackle box, and went along his way to fish with the angels.

On February 26th, 1966, in Breckenridge, MN, Gary and Margie Porter welcomed their first child into the world. David was the oldest of five Porter children and eventually, the family would relocate to Cando, ND. During the centennial anniversary of Cando's founding, David graduated from Cando High School, receiving his diploma and accolades such as three different varsity letters in football, track, and basketball.

Into his adulthood, he would attend schools such as the University of North Dakota, Lake Region, where he received a certificate in peace office training (May 1990) and the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, where he received a Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice Studies (May 1992). David would also enlist in the Army National Guard and serve his country.

David continued to live in Grand Forks throughout the remainder of his life, making friends through various jobs and visiting family in the area and around it. Of the variety of jobs he worked, none lasted as long as when he began working for Acme Tools in May of 2007, as one of their warehouse employees. He would continue working in that position until March of 2022, when health issues caused him to go onto disability. Acme was actively working with him and his medical team as the following year progressed to ensure he had a place to come back to in their company, even if they had to invent a spot especially for him.

On April 16th, 1998, David became a father. His child, Jesse, came into the world in the early morning and he was their hero all throughout their childhood and into their adulthood. The two of them went on many adventures, but none more than fishing at random spots along Devil's Lake. They would be out for hours, occasionally the whole day, and then make the trip over to Cando, to spend time with David's parents for the remainder of the weekend. When not out fishing, the two of them would sit together and watch a variety of cooking shows, especially Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives with Guy Feiri.

On June 8th, 2007, Jesse's mother, Jacki, brought Jesse's younger sibling into the world, Marion Rose. While David wasn't Marion's biological father, as their childhood progressed, he would always say that they felt like his and he was the kind of man who stepped up as a father figure when needed.

David had an appreciation for cooking, collecting a wide variety of cookbooks, even just so he could enjoy reading through them to see what ingredients were used in what dish and how it was made. He would go to farmer's markets and side of the road markets to get fresh ingredients for cooking and also receive different jars of produce from his mom.

David and Margie were close, even as he grew into the late stages of his life. Phone calls were exchanged regularly, even to give a simple "Hello, how's your day?" She helped teach him to be a kind man, albeit stubborn as is the "Porter way."

Kind, genuine, and sentimental were good terms to describe David; he made a point of remembering birthdays and holidays, keeping graduation announcements and wedding invitations. He kept many photos of his life and the lives of his family. It always seemed like he was never happier than when he was surrounded by his family, even dressing up as Santa at one of the many Christmas family get-togethers.

David was a fighter; battling with health issues that had caused an amputation, he didn't let it stop him from progressing to the next stage, fighting to get his life back in equilibrium. His resolve and goal-orientation, as well as simply his smile and his hugs, will sorely be missed.

David is survived by his children, Jesse (Ethan) and Marion; their mother and his friend, Jacki; his father - Gary; his siblings - Greg (Mollie), Tammy, Darwin (Michelle), and Tonya (Brent); his plethora of nieces and nephews; as well as a wide range of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Margie Lou; maternal grandparents, Theodore and Mary Shervin; and paternal grandparents, William and Gertrude Porter; as well as a handful of aunts and uncles from both sides of his family.

David didn't have an active will, so instead of a funeral, when the family gathers to celebrate the life of Margie Lou, they will also be celebrating the life of Gary David Porter; a father, son, brother, uncle, and friend to many."