Gary Leon Wilson

Chronicle Staff

Published: Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

  Gary Leon Wilson was born Aug. 9, 1949, in Steamboat Springs, Colo., to Luther Leon and Reba Eileen (Tomlinson) Wilson.  He attended Soroco High School in Oak Creek, Colo., graduating in 1967. Gary worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C., for 14 months.  In October 1968 he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam from March 1969 until his honorable discharge on May 17, 1970. He worked around Yampa, Colo., then moved to Denver where he worked for PCA for 11 years. In 1987. Gary moved to South Dakota and on Feb. 24, 1989, he married Molly Gale Smith. He worked in the timber industry and for Linde Sawmill until his retirement in 2006. Gary was a member of the VFW in Custer, S.D. On Nov. 6, 2008, Gary died at his home in Custer. He was 59. Survivors include his wife, Molly, of Custer; mother, Reba Wilson of Yampa; step son, Tom (Chris) Hendrickson of Lake City, Fla.; step daughters, Kim (Tom) Conwell of Custer; Kelly (Bob) Leil of Pringle, S.D.; sisters, Colleen (Bill) Bruin of Phippsburg, Colo., Teresa (Mike) Rhodes of Craig, Colo.; six grandchildren, Jesse (Misty) Conwell, Jacob (Melissa) Conwell, Autumn Conwell, Daniel Hendrickson, Hannah (Steve) Skaggs, Jeremy Serfoss; four great-grandchildren, Joseph Conwell, Mia Conwell, Kyle Skaggs, Katelyn Skaggs; and five nieces and nephews, Beth (James) Elliott, Michelle (Josey) Conn, Mandi Rhodes, Lori (Mike Terpstra) Rhodes and Bryan Rhodes.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at McColley’s Chapel of the Hills in Custer.  Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at McColley’s Chapel of the Hills in Custer, with Pastor Bill Savery officiating. Interment will follow at the Custer Cemetery.  A memorial has been established to the VFW in Custer, and donations may be left in care of McColley’s Chapel of the Hills, 234 North 6th Street, Custer, SD  57730.  Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.