KETCHUM, IDAHO – David C. Faltings, Super Dave, as he was known to his friends, died of ALS after a three-year struggle on June 9, 2016. He was 52. In many ways, he was the smiling face that greeted people at Silver Creek Outfitters. Dave was everyone’s friend.
Dave was born in Southern California. As a child he lived in St. Louis, Mo., Gaithersburg, Md., Coral Springs, Fla., Diablo, Calif., and Danville, Calif. Collecting and keeping friends along the way.
As a boy, summers were spent in Ellsworth with his paternal grandparents, Mildred and George Faltings. He had a small aluminum boat and was off every morning, disappearing into the Green Lake morning fog with the camp dog, Bourbon. A lifelong love of nature, fishing and disobedient dogs began. He loved his labs, past and present: Riley, Bug and Lily. He loved all living things.
He traveled the world fly fishing: Chile, Russia, Christmas Island, British Columbia and the Seychelles and was always willing to share. He had no secrets. His generosity was genuine and he was always eager to help others by introducing them to a new place to fish, helping them cast or selecting the right fly.
Dave went to Idaho from Danville, Calif., to attend the University of Idaho. There, he earned his degree in finance in 1984. He guided at Silver Creek Outfitters while in college and moved to Ketchum full-time in 1988, along with some of his fraternity brothers: Brett Drummond, Ritchie Thurston, Mark Osmer, John Kendall and Mike Neary.
Steelhead Camp started after college. Dave and a group of friends set up a fall fishing camp at the confluence of the Grande Rhone and Snake Rivers. Wall tents were erected in September and taken down in November. They were there for the season with guests coming and going. Steelhead was Dave’s favorite — his passion.
Dave met his wife, Renee, in the Pioneer Saloon. A mutual friend introduced them, simply saying “She likes to fish.” When Dave’s first question was “What do you like to fish for?” Her reply was, “I really like the strong tug of a steelhead.” The hook was set. Weeks later, Dave announced to the world he was going to marry her. It took a little longer for him to convince her. They married in Stanley, Idaho, on February 15, 2010.
Renee was the perfect bride. As Dave explained, “She has a fishing cabin on the Metolius River, a camper and drift boat.”
He always wore a smile. His eyes sparkled bright. Kind, selfless and humble.
He is survived by his wife, Renee Faltings, parents Janet and Donald Faltings, his sister Allison Streeby, her husband Dan and their four children, Lucy, Beau, Jack and Beatrice, sister Jennifer Faltings and her daughter Harper Rose and three dogs, Riley, Lily and Bug all residing in Boise, Idaho. Aunts and Uncles Barbara and Warren Kinsman of Ellsworth, Ruth and David Green, Montecito, Calif.
The family would like thank his nurse Allison Ashford for the compassionate care she provided Dave, the team of Doctors and staff at St. Luke’s, Dr. Summer Gibson and staff at the University of Utah ALS Clinic and all of his friends.
A private celebration of life is planned for July 24 at noon on the banks of Silver Creek.
A memorial fund has been setup through the Bald Mountain Rescue Fund. Checks should be made out to The Bald Mountain Rescue Fund with the notation “In memory of Dave Faltings” written on the memo line and sent to: The Bald Mountain Rescue Fund, Attention: Brian Barsotti, PO Box 370, Ketchum, ID, 83340.
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