Gary Williams
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Gary D. Williams died at his home in Rapid City on October 3, 2020, at the age of 74.
Gary was born the third of three boys to William Charles (Billy) and Shirley Williams on November 18, 1945, in Watertown, South Dakota, the place where Gary spent most of his life. As a child, he worked and played at the family's entertainment complex, Stony Point, on the shores of Lake Kampeska. He learned to swim and roller skate by age 3, spending many days making laps in the Spider Web, a unique circular roller skating rink designed and built by his grandfather. In his teens, Gary worked at the Stony Point resort picking golf balls off the driving range, working the dance hall, picking up empty bottles, serving as a lifeguard, selling popcorn, pouring beer, and fixing roller skates at the Spider Web, where one day he spent an inordinate amount of time adjusting the skates of a cute girl, Susan Moore, who would eventually become his wife. Growing up, Gary developed a close bond and deep friendship with Curly Arbogast, who ran day-to-day operations at Stony Point. Gary thought of Curly as a second father.
Gary graduated from Watertown High School in 1964, where he was both a track and football star, being named as a First Team All State football player in 1963. Although offered college football scholarships, Gary declined and chose to study business management and economics at South Dakota State University. Gary served in the Army ROTC program while in college, but was devastated when he was ultimately unable to serve (4F) as he suffered from severe hay fever and other allergies that affected his respiratory system. He received a Bachelors Degree in 1968.
Throughout his high school and college years, Gary became an accomplished musician, playing 12-string and six-string guitar and singing in different groups that on occasion drew crowds of upwards of 1,000 people. During the summer and weekends while in college, Gary managed Stony Point's Rainbow Room, booking some of the most famous and popular bands of the day, including the Flippers, the Red Dogs, and Spider & the Crabs to name a few. Gary accepted Stony Point's induction into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
Gary and Susan were married on May 20, 1969. That same year, Gary began working at Farmers and Merchants Bank and Trust in Watertown. He left that job to serve as a guidance counselor at Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI) before landing a job as General Manager at Watertown Monument Works. Over the next 15 years, Gary served in a variety of leadership roles at Watertown Monument Works, developing and refining his business acumen. He was instrumental in helping that company remain successful during his time there.
In 1990, Gary returned to LATI, this time serving as its Director. During his 16 years of leadership, LATI experienced significant growth in it its enrollment, number and types of programs, physical campus, and prominence. He was always keenly focused on workforce development, ensuring LATI graduates had the training and skills needed by a wide variety of employers not only in Watertown but throughout the upper Midwest.
Gary retired from LATI in 2006, spending a few years traveling and developing his skills as a fly-fisherman, before committing his life to politics. He was elected Mayor of Watertown in 2009 while the country was in the midst of a major economic recession. Both his business and workforce development skills helped him pilot Watertown through those difficult times.
After serving as Mayor, Gary moved to Rapid City to be closer to his family.
Beyond his professional life, Gary was a dedicated husband and father. He and Susan were married for 45 years, divorcing in 2014. They raised their three boys, Joey, Jason, and Jeff, at their family home at Stony Point on the shores of Lake Kampeska. With the help of neighborhood friends, the couple taught all three of their boys to swim and water ski by age 5. An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Gary spent countless mornings with his boys shooting ducks at the G&N Club, walking area corn fields and the family property for pheasants, deer hunting around Watertown, and spending long weekends hunting geese on the bluffs of the Missouri River near Pike Haven Resort. Most summer evenings would find Gary and his family sitting on the end of their dock fishing.
In his latter years, Gary suffered from depression, a battle which ultimately he lost. We are surrounded by people who struggle with depression?athletes, businessmen, politicians, educators, musicians, husbands, fathers, sons...Gary was all of these. He led an amazing life and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Despite death, Gary will continue to be loved and will live in our hearts forever.
He is survived by his son, Jeff, and Barbara Williams, of Rapid City and their children Noah (14) and Lily (8); his son, Jason, and Elizabeth Williams of Missoula, Montana, and their children Emma June (14) and Sage (10); his daughter in law, Stacey and Yancey Grangaard of Spearfish, South Dakota; and their children William Dean (16) and Brady (12); a grandaughter, Kyra Williams (21) of Boulder, Colorado; and his ex-wife, Susan Houk of Weaverville, North Carolina. He was predeceased by his parents, his two older brothers, William Michael and Bob, and his oldest son, Joey.
While there will be no funeral, family and friends are gathering between 5 pm and 7 pm, Friday, October 9, at the pavilion on the far west side of Canyon Lake Park in Rapid City. The family is also planning a Celebration of Life in Watertown for sometime in the summer of 2021. Kirk Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements. For online obituary and guest registry, go to the website at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks that a donation be made in Gary's name to the Lake Area Zoological Society, PO Box 910, Watertown, SD 57201 or https://www.brambleparkzoo.com/.