John Sproul

  John L. Sproul, 94, Buffalo, ND, died July 29, 2022 in Palm Desert, CA.

  John Lindsay Sproul was born in the family farmhouse in Buffalo, North Dakota on January 31, 1928 to Ethel Mae Love Sproul and Dwight Ross Sproul.  He grew up helping with the dairy and grain farm, riding the tractor with wooden blocks, so that his feet would touch the pedals.  He went to school in town, graduating from Buffalo High School.  From there, he attended the University of North Dakota, where he joined ROTC.  After graduating, he met Beverly Ann Wilde while on a double date.  After a short courtship, they married on December 26, 1951.  

 John’s career in the Air Force took them all around the world.  They had two children, Gregory Michael Wilde Sproul, born October 17, 1955 in Paris, France and Robin Michele Love Sproul born October 2, 1958 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.  When asked where was his favorite place to live, he said Washington, DC, because he enjoyed the excitement there.  He rose in the ranks of the Air Force doing counter intelligence work in Europe, while stationed in Germany.  When he came back to the states, he taught ROTC at the University of Alabama.  John did a tour in Vietnam, after which he became a colonel and served in the Defense Investigative Service in California and rose to the second in command for DIS in Washington, DC. After retiring from the military, having served 28 years, he was the head of security at Northrop while they were developing the B-2 Spirit (Stealth Bomber).  

 John was a wonderful husband to Beverly for almost 60 years, when she passed away, and a great father to Robin, Greg, and his wife, Sue, grandfather to Heather, and her husband, Tim, and great grandfather to Britton and Ethan.  After Beverly’s passing, John married Evelyn Connell and they were together almost 10 years.  He enjoyed spending time with her children, Christi Sawyer, David Connell and Kelley Cuisano and their families.  

 John loved eating good hot food, playing golf, going to the gym and following the stock market.  He will always be remembered as a great tease.

Graveside Service:  2pm Thursday, August 11, 2022, at the Buffalo Cemetery, Buffalo, ND. 

Reception:  immediately following the graveside service will be held at the Buffalo Main Street Park (next to the Book of Valor Memorial).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: American Legion Yanish Easton Post Number 10 or 1916 Buffalo High School

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