Dave Askman died May 8, 2024 the way he lived—surrounded by friends and packing a little extra into an already full day. He was 62 years old. Dave was born March 30, 1962 in Sidney, Montana to June and Billy Askman. He grew up as a middle child and is survived by his mom, older sister Cheryl King, and younger sister Donna Askman. He is also survived by his wife, Amanda Rafool, and their sons, Thomas and Daniel. Dave grew up in Lingle, Wyoming, and attended Torrington High School where he was a math whiz, master debater, wrestler and baseball player. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from University of Wyoming. Dave started his law career clerking for a federal judge in Wyoming before joining the United States Department of Justice in Washington, DC. He spent nearly two decades with DOJ, litigating complex environmental cases across the country, including Love Canal, the Bunker Hill mining site in Idaho, and the Libby, Montana asbestos site. In 2008, Dave was awarded the John Marshall Award, the Department of Justice’s highest honor. After several years in DC, Dave accepted a transfer to Denver to be closer to home and to a certain woman he met while skiing at Breckenridge. Mandy Rafool and Dave Askman were married on Aspen Mountain on June 5, 2004. Mandy and Dave loved having adventures together. They spent the turn of the millennium in Machu Pichu and made it to South Africa in 2005 for a belated honeymoon. They summited Mt. Kilimanjaro for their 50th birthdays and sailed around Greece and Turkey when they turned 60. At New Orleans Jazz Fest in 2006, they got a call telling them their baby, who was supposed to arrive via C-section two weeks later, was waiting for them in Oklahoma. They rushed to meet Thomas in May and just like that, a new adventure began. And began again nine months later when they found themselves back in Oklahoma when Daniel was born in February of 2007. Dave loved spending time with the boys, organizing neighborhood activities, and coaching soccer and baseball. Professionally, Dave opened his own firm in 2014. He specialized in environmental cleanup, particularly holding polluters responsible for damage done to Native American tribal lands. His firm remains in the capable hands of Michael Frandina, his law partner since 2016. Dave was known for his passion for live music, attending around 90 shows a year. He could draw anyone into fun conversation and be fully present. He picked up passions and pursued them intensely, if not for long. Bowling, disc golf, golf, guitar, trumpet, veterinary medicine – just to name a few. If you would like to honor Dave, please consider donating to these worthy causes that were near to his heart: Dumb Friends League, National Indian Child Welfare Association, Colorado Sierra Club.