‘Everybody knows Dave’: Beloved school crossing guard honored at surprise event planned by parents
Laurie Hartmann, staff writer, Prior Lake NEWS COMPASS. December 17, 2025
Dave Bellis is probably the most recognized staff member for students attending Hidden Oaks Middle School and Twin Oaks Middle School.
The buildings are located across the street from each other on Fish Point Road, one of the busiest side streets in Prior Lake. Hundreds of students travel between the buildings throughout the day to attend classes and eventually catch their bus to go home.
And Bellis, the school district’s middle school crossing guard and longtime campus supervisor, is always there to make certain the hundreds of students with whom he interacts each day stay safe.
He’s at that intersection in all weather conditions and is known for giving a high-five or fist bump. Some students even slow their walk across the street just to get one.
He smiles as he greets many by name. The pocket of his jacket is usually filled with mints he shares with students.
“Dave is like everybody’s grandpa,” said one Twin Oaks seventh grader. “Everybody knows Dave. He always gives me a fist bump and is so kind and sweet.”
Bellis, 76, grew up in Indiana and served as a Marine in the Vietnam War, after which he was a police officer for seven years. The following 36 years were spent doing fire and explosives investigations. He and wife, Lin, later moved to their Savage home to be closer to other family members.
Parents have taken notice of Bellis’ actions and commitment to keeping students safe, including Katie Bengtson, a parent who originally intended to buy him a gift card for coffee as a gesture of thanks. She reached out to other parents and soon found out he was well-known by others who wanted to contribute toward a gift. Hundreds of contributions poured in.
Bellis finished his duties on Dec. 12, and was asked to return to Hidden Oaks. He didn’t know what was up, but soon found a large crowd of students, parents, teachers and a few television crews who had filled a large meeting room and broke into loud applause and cheers when he and Lin entered, a look of surprise plastered on his face.
Bellis, pictured with his wife, Lin, received a big gift — a new Toro snowblower — at the end of the presentation.
“That was over the top,” Bellis said.
In remarks to the crowd, Bengston said local parents appreciated Bellis’ concern for keeping students safe. Funds raised allowed for the purchase of a high-visibility jacket and heated gloves to keep him warm on the job, Minnesota Wild tickets including transportation and dinner, and many gift cards to his favorite coffee shop, several local restaurants and area retail businesses.
Bellis also received a huge bag of mints and hundreds of hand-written notes from students. The presentation ended with a new snowblower being wheeled in that was donated by the Toro company.
“It’s a pleasure getting the kids back and forth safely,” Bellis said to the crowd of people who gathered to honor him. He noted that he rarely has problems with any student, and he encounters more issues with drivers who aren’t paying attention when driving between the schools.
“Dave is awesome, and he’s one of the most humble human beings you will ever find,” said Zach Haught, Twin Oaks dean of students. “He’s out here every day, rain or shine, greeting our kids.”
Haught relayed that while chaperoning a recent student trip to Washington, DC, the group made a stop at the Vietnam Memorial toward the end of a day when the kids were tired. He heard one student remarking that Dave had been in Vietnam, and wondered what he experienced while serving his country. The students were concerned about him, which is just one example of the respect he has earned over the years from the young people he protects.
“We live in a world where people don’t get to know each other,” Haught said. “Dave knows every kid who crosses this street.”
“This is a rewarding job and I work with good people,” Bellis said. “I really enjoy the kids. I have no idea how to say thank you to the people who put together last Friday’s event.”
He said he intends to stay on in his present role through the coming school year.
“Most of the people I work with are in one of these two buildings,” Bellis added, pointing to Twin Oaks and Hidden Oaks schools. “Those buildings are their offices.
“Anyone walking between them is in my office, and it’s my job to make sure they stay safe.”
