Dane D. Sayers

Dane Donovan Sayers, 33, passed away due to accidental drowning on June 5^th, 2021 in Fargo, ND. Dane was born at home on March 5^th, 1988 in Moorhead, MN to Dale and Bonnie (Lamb) Sayers. His family moved to Devil’s Lake, ND, Albuquerque, NM, and settled in West Fargo, ND where he attended K-12 and graduated from WFHS in 2006. Dane was athletic.  He played 10 years of football as well as several of wrestling and track.  His love of running led him to participate in as many as twelve 5ks in one year.  Running along the bike trails near the Red River, he enjoyed the peaceful banks and collecting interesting driftwood for primitive wood art.

He was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe as a descendant of his grandfather Kenneth Wayne Sayers.  His Blackfeet heritage was from his grandmother, Vida Louise (Smith) Sayers, Browning MT.

Dane was a professional MMA fighter, his career spanned over a decade with 16 fights.  His professional record was 12 wins and his 4 losses were by judge’s decision as he always went the distance.  He fought under his Blackfeet name, Red Horse, given to him in a naming ceremony by Chief Earl Old Person of the Blackfeet Nation. He was a member of the cast of athletes on The Ultimate Fighter Season 12.   In addition to his MMA career, Dane worked in a number of IT support roles for SEI and Microsoft vendors and served in the Army Reserves.

He was a keen chess player and loved board games.  He was very health conscious, loved reading, and researching anything and everything.  He loved spending time with his son Aden, hiking, and camping with his family. He was very spiritual, believed in animal rights, and was a vegetarian. He often spoke of ikigai, the Japanese philosophy of bringing meaning, purpose and fulfillment to life by contributing to the good of others.

Dane is survived by his loving family: leaving a son, Aden Alexander Sayers, Dilworth, MN; Parents Dale & Bonnie (Lamb) Sayers, West Fargo, ND ; Brother Jody (Alysha) Lamb with Dane’s nephew on the way, West Fargo ND;  Goddaughter/Niece Natalie Enz, Moorhead, MN; Step Grandmother Betty Ann (Best) Sayers, Holdrege, NE, Godfather Glenn Sayers, Godmother Nancy (Lamb) Boutain, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins throughout MN, ND, MT, NE, OR, WA, WI, and other states.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Charles & Billie June (Harris) Lamb, Kenneth Sayers and Vida (Smith) Sayers; Uncles Michael Lamb, Steven Rood, Charles Clements, Joseph Hasby, Godfather Ronald Boutain;  Aunts Lauretta (Lamb) Clements & Charlene (Lamb) Godfredson.

Dane was cremated and his ashes will be interred at Riverside Cemetery, Fargo ND.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 4pm on Friday, June 25^th at Gooseberry Park, Moorhead, MN in the large shelter.

In lieu of flowers or memorials a Go Fund Me has been created for Dane’s son Aden’s athletic and educational needs. Dane “Red Horse” Sayers Memorial Fund    https://gofund.me/8b1c49d5