David Jonathan Butcher Ampudia

David Jonathan Butcher Ampudia, 24, passed away Sunday morning, July 25, 2010 near Kalispell, as the result of a vehicle accident. He was born on June 1, 1986 to Peter and Claudia (Butcher) Ampudia in Loma Linda, Calif., while his father was finishing his last year of duty at March Air Force Base.

The family moved to Apple Valley, Calif., where David began his education. He continued his schooling in Bigfork when the couple moved in May of 1993. While attending school in Bigfork, David began competing in Little Guy Wrestling, taking the state championship in his fifth grade year.

In 1997 the family moved to Columbia Falls, where David continued his love of sports and especially wrestling. He won many wrestling matches and his senior year his brother Ryan was at every match coaching and cheering his brother to victory. He was ranked No. 1 in the state his senior year. He graduated in 2004. In 2003, Shayla Dunlap joined the Ampudia family and shortly after was diagnosed with leukemia. David and Shayla were inseparable and he attended to her care while she recovered. He went on to attend the University of Great Falls on a wrestling scholarship for two years and was ranked 12th in the nation before returning to the valley to attend Flathead Valley Community College.

While attending FVCC, David started Advanced Plastering, a drywall business with a friend and was very successful. During this time David also left his studies at FVCC to assist his parents during a difficult time and when Shayla's leukemia returned.

David and Shayla were together for more than seven years and she was the biggest thing in his life. Among other things David loved mountain biking, rafting, snowboarding and hanging with his many friends. It was said that his friends always felt safer when David was around.

David knew the Lord and has joined in heaven, his Nana Margaret Butcher, aunt Bonnie Butcher, uncle Harold Wayne and brother Eric Jonathan. He is survived by his parents, Peter and Claudia Ampudia of Whitefish, two big (little brothers' Peter Christopher and Ryan Anthony (fiance, Kimberly Heger); maternal grandfather, Harold Butcher; great uncle, Harold Huff and aunt's Diane, Lesia and Tresha; paternal grandparents, Robert and Betty Ampudia, uncle Robby and Rudy and aunt Tish. David doted over his nephew Travys and niece Gabriella Neva and loved his dog Sadie.

A joint celebration of life will be held for David and Shayla on Friday, July 30, 2010 at 11 a.m. at New Covenant Church on Birch Grove Road. Burial will follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. A potluck reception will be held immediately following at the Babe Ruth Baseball fields on Talbot Road.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for David's family. You are invited to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view David's tribute wall and offer condolences.