Gary W. Dusharm died December 28 after a 48-year battle with Crohn’s disease and a bout with cancer. A visitation for Gary will be held from 1-3pm on Friday January 2, 2026 at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings, SD. A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday January 3, 2026 at Rude’s Funeral Home.
Gary was born on July 10, 1949, in Gouverneur, NY, the son of Clyde F. and Beatrice (McIntosh) Dusharm. His father, was a Navy combat Veteran in World War II and an underground miner, and his mother, a stay-at-home mother of four.
Growing up Gary spent his summers staying with his grandparents on their century old farm. He and his siblings grew up in the small town of Fowler, NY. Attending Fowler Elementary school. After graduating from Gouverneur High School, Gary went to work for Stromberg-Carlson installing telephone offices across the country. Transferring to Brookings in December of 1968, he met Carol Langner. In March of 1969 they were married. For the next two years they moved 22 times returning to Brookings to raise their family. They were blessed with two sons Jeremy and Daryl. Gary spent weekends riding his motorcycle all over South Dakota and when he inherited his father’s 1931 Model A Ford in 1992, he enjoyed traveling on every dirt or gravel road he could find.
He was a woodworker and was a weekend carpenter. After he and Carol built their house, he would always say “It took 30 years to get it done”.
Gary was a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church. He was Assistant Scout Master for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Pack 4. He was a youth leader at First Lutheran Church for ten years. Later he volunteered repairing wheelchairs that were sent all over the world.
Gary is survived by his wife Carol; sons Jeremy (Katie) of Titusville, FL, and Daryl of Brookings, SD; grandchildren Lily and Grace of Brookings, SD, Archer, and Ruhe of Titusville, FL; sister Darlene (Gregg) Gonyeau; brother Rod of Gouverneur, NY; brother-in-law Ron (Linda) Langner; sister-in-law’s Sharon (Gordie) Bortnem, and Kathy (Mike) McClemans of Brookings, and many nieces and nephews. Special friends Harry Thompson, and Phil Wagner.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, and his brother Wayne Dusharm.
In lieu of flowers, donation to the Brookings Volunteer Service Bank, who gave Gary many rides over the years or to a charity of one’s choice.
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