Gary Larsen

Gary Larsen, age 79, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at Avantara-Milbank Nursing Home.

Funeral services for Gary will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Tabor United Methodist Church in Big Stone City, SD. Pastor Barbara McKewin will officiate and burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and viewable at www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net.

Gary Dene Larsen was born on March 31, 1943, in Morris, MN, to Leo and Lillian (Gerber) Larsen. The family moved to Alexandria, MN, when Gary was six years old, and he attended school there.

On April 9, 1967, Gary was drafted into the United States Army and attended Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri and Ft. Ord in California. He was part of the 84^th Engineer Battalion and served in Vietnam. When he returned from Vietnam, he went with the 359^th Transportation Company back to Quy Nhon, Vietnam. Following Gary’s honorable discharge, he worked in the Army Corps of Engineers as a civilian in Subic Bay, Philippines, for one year. Upon his return to the United States, he worked as a civilian in Round Rock, TX, and later in Alexandria, MN.

Always a hard worker, Gary worked with heavy equipment building runways, doing asphalt work, and constructing roads. He worked in Revillo, SD, for about 10 years, and in Wadena, MN, for about 10 years. In 2018, Gary moved to Milbank, SD, where he resided until his passing.

In his leisure time, Gary enjoyed archery and was a member of archery clubs in Wadena and Alexandria and enjoyed shooting archery at Mark Veen’s. In his younger years, he enjoyed racing cars, going to the lake, and bow hunting for deer. Gary enjoyed his daily conversations with his significant other and good friend, Elizabeth.

Gary is survived by his significant other, Elizabeth “Lizbaac” Gallenero Ehalab; many dear friends; Kimberly Veen and Amy Prisinger from Dr. Patrick Dreis’s office; Mark Veen at the archery range; his advocate, Linsey Allen; his Philippines friends; and friend, Ronald Johnson of Alexandria, MN.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Leo and Lillian Larsen; infant sister; and uncle and aunt, Fred and Mable Gerber.