The memorial service for Gary Wickre, 75, of Britton will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, December 9, 2023 at First Lutheran Church of Britton. Pastor Terrill Sorensen will officiate. Gary will go to his final resting place in the Britton Cemetery at a later date. Olson Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
A gathering of friends and family will be held Friday evening from 5-7:00 p.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Church fellowship hall.
Gary died Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen, SD.
Gary Keith Wickre was born July 6, 1948 to Hersey and Margaret Wickre in Britton, SD. He was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Britton.
Before the age of 2, Gary was hospitalized with polio at Sister Kenny Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. From this wore braces on his legs into his early school years.
He attended school in Britton and graduated from Britton High School in 1966. He went on to study accounting at Northern State College.
He worked many odd jobs in high school and college, but the one he talked about most was his time working road construction, especially on the road past the power plant near Big Stone City, SD.
Garyworkedasacostaccountant for Lahman Manufacturing in Hecla, SD. It was during this time that he met his wife of 49 years.
Gary married Marlys Wolf of Britton on May 18, 1974. They welcomed their son Greg in 1975 and completed their family with the birth of daughter Lisa in 1978. They have spent all of their years together in Britton. In June of 1974, Gary and Marlys bought the Britton Cafe. In 1988 they built a new building that became the home of Wickre’s Family Restaurant. In all, they spent 32 years working together cooking and catering.
He thoroughly enjoyed visiting and could strike up a conversation with everyone he met. No one was a stranger.
Gary was an outdoorsman through and through. He thoroughly enjoyed hunting and fishing in northeast South Dakota with family and friends. He shared this love of the outdoors with his family and nephew Scott. You could find him on the lake shore every Spring with a rod and reel in his hand, in the boat, or driving around the countryside looking for wildlife. He also enjoyed trapping and would put on countless miles checking his trap line. Some of his most memorable experiences include an archery bear hunt in Oregon, fishing with his wife and friends in Canada, and elk hunting in Colorado.
Gary was a member of the Marshall County Sportsman’s Club and served as Secretary/ Treasurer for many years. With the help of his wife, they organized a free kid’s fishing derby each Spring for the past 40+ years. He participated in archery league, trap shooting, handgun club, helped with the hunter safety course, and was a certified bowhunter education instructor.
Summers during the 70s and 80s, he could be found playing fast-pitch softball with the Green Merchants as a pitcher, traveling to tournaments around the state. As the team aged, they transitioned to slow-pitch softball. During the winter months he was part of the men’s bowling league. He never missed his weekly poker game with friends - they would schedule their games around other activities so no one had to miss out.
Gary was a “full-time” substitute school bus driver for 50 years. He enjoyed many years of driving students to and from school and school activities. He really enjoyed driving players to and from their games, especially the football team, taking the 1992 team to Vermillion for the championship game was the highlight of his career. Most recently he has had the pleasure of driving Austin & Brennen to and from school in Aberdeen during which time he formed a special bond with them. Gary was a fan of all sports. Over the years he could be found in the stands of any Britton football, basketball, baseball, softball or volleyball game, or wrestling match. He followed student athletes from grade school through graduation and beyond. He was truly a “Britton Brave”.
Grateful for sharing his life are his wife Marlys, daughter Lisa (Kevin) Knudson, and grandsons Kendall & Lukas; his sister Carla (James) Grimsrud, and brother Raymond (Nancy) Wickre, along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, son Greg Wickre and nephew Scott Grimsrud.
The family asks those who plan to attend the service to dress casually.
Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Marlys Wickre - Box 465 Britton, SD 57430.
An online guestbook and obituary are available at www. pricefuneralchapel.net.
