Gary Klungseth

Gary Klungseth, 68, of Aberdeen, SD, entered into eternal rest peacefully surrounded by all his girls at home where he belonged on November 25th, 2021.  

Mass of Christian burial is 1:00 p.m., Thursday December 2, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Aberdeen, with Fr. Michael Kapperman officiating.

Visitation is 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the mortuary, with a Liturgical Wake and Rosary at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Gary James Klungseth came into this world January 15, 1953 born to Violet (Loebs) and Gerald Klungseth.  

Gary grew up in Aberdeen, South Dakota with six siblings raised by Violet and Clay Clayton. He started working at Pantry Cafe as a short order cook where he learned the art of the perfect egg to order. The majority of his career was spent at O.K. Tire where he was known as “Red” and befriended most of the city’s service personnel, local farmers, the local Hutterite colonies, and countless others during his tenure. He went on to work at Web Water for over 10 years on the Construction Crew and as a Shop Inventory Specialist. After retiring from Web Water in May 2018, he worked part-time at Runnings and most recently O'Reilly's as a parts delivery driver. 

On February 28, 1981 he married Nancy Block, and together they raised four daughters. Gary doted on his girls endlessly.  He always joked he tried multiple times for a boy, but he was the best girl dad a girl could ever ask for.  He taught all of them how to be boys at heart, how to get dirty, how to hold a flashlight the proper way under the hood of a car, how to build things, change a tire, change oil, and be independent.  Gary was also a great Girl Scout dad.  He knew how to next-level a sock hop and father-daughter dance, and he put great effort into learning the Macarena with them. He truly adored them and always called them his “good girls”. 

In his “spare time”, Gary worked at Thunder Road as the go-kart Mechanic and Manager, worked at Service Master as a Night Custodian for several local businesses, drove taxi, and started and operated Kleaning Plus cleaning several local businesses on weekends and evenings. He never knew a day without work and spare time was wasted time. 

During the 90’s, Gary and Nancy started and were actively involved in the Dakota Heartland Cruisers, an enthusiast classic car club that held regular outings, camping trips, poker runs, and car shows that brought other motorheads together to gather.   Gary’s ride or die was a 1957 Chevy Belair California Special with a 283 Powerglide full-time 4-barrel, 4-door hardtop with a Dusk Pearl body and Indian Ivory hardtop. 

Gary always put energy into his hobbies which included befriending perfect strangers on a 2-hour run for single gallon of milk, wood-working (the pride and joy of which was a joy fully-restored student desk), helping the local 4H group Performing Arts and building props for performances, riding motorcycles for a breath of fresh air or in poker runs, the Knights of Columbus as a 4th Degree Knight and Knights on Bikes, endless cups of coffee with his friends at Marlin’s, and camping with family, extended family and befriending more random strangers who quickly became new friends.   

He is survived by the love of his life and endearing jitterbug partner for the last 40 years, his wife Nancy Ann; his daughters: Michelle “Shelly” & Mike McCarville, Lacey “Lacey Lou” Klungseth & Joe Miller, Holly “Holly Dolly” & Dusty Davenport, and Tara “Bear” Klungseth; three grandchildren that he absolutely adored and doted on: Miss Parker Pie McCarville, Mister Easton Klungseth, and Mister Tyson Davenport; and siblings: Della (Leslie) Dutenhoffer, Donnie (Diane) Klungseth, and Jim Clayton; and many nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Violet Loebs and Clay Clayton; his brothers, Jerry Teske and Fred Klungseth; and sisters, Peggy Clayton and Baby Linda.

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