Funeral Service for Garry Lee Neilan, 50 of Peever, SD will be held on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at Ascension Presbyterian Church, Peever, SD with Pastor Don Lykins, Jr. Heminger and CLP Mary Beth Kirk officiating. Pianist will be Billy Kohl and special music by Kim Lawrence and Mary Beth Kirk. Pallbearers will be Waylon Brown, Josh Cunningham, Adrian Williams, Richard Williams, Darrell Renville, and Dave Christensen. Honorary Pallbearers will be Rick and Patty Norris, Dave Wallenstein, Robert and Peggy Fisher and family, Lawson Renville, Bobby Kohl, Josh Kohl, Gilbert Kohl, Dennis Owen, Jr., Dave and Greg Stillson, Tom Adams, Robert and Faye Johnston, Gail Williams, Tami Seiber, Jessie Chanku, Russell LeBeau, Will Wilkie, Kevin Wegehaupt, Owen Dean German, Ion Szaktor, The David, Virgil, Duane and Leroy Lewandowski Families, Jon Young, Marsha Renville, Valinda Redwing-White, Art Lewis Sr. and Mike Shaffer. Burial will be in Ascension Presbyterian Cemetery with Military Rites by Desert Era Veterans. There will be a Wake Service at Big Coulee District Center on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 7:00 P.M.
Garry Lee Neilan was born to George and Mabel (Amos) Neilan in Sisseton, SD, on December 4, 1963. He grew up in Big Coulee and attended and graduated from Wilmot High School in May 1982. On June 6, 1987, he married Betty Spider at Ascension Presbyterian Church in Big Coulee. To this union, they were blessed with 4 children: Chelsey, Kylee, Dustin, and Dirk, and made their home near Big Coulee for over 22 years. Garry served in the Army National Guard from February 6, 1982 until April 1, 1994. He also served in the U.S. Army from November 17, 1990 until July 25, 1991. He received the Army Service Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon w/Numeral 2, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Reserve Component overseas Training Ribbon w/Numeral 4, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/3 Bronze Stars, Southwest Asia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, SD National Guard Service Ribbon w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Lapel Button, Sharpshooter Badge (M16), Driver/Mechanic Badge w/W-Bar, and the Marksmanship Badge (Hand Grenade). Garry worked hard all of his life, rain or shine, since he was 8 years old. He helped his dad pour concrete as his dad was a union bricklayer, and helped him raise cows, pigs, and hauled hay. Through the years Garry worked as truck driver for Art Argo & Sons Trucking rural Peever, SD, Plant Manager at Lynch's Foods in Browns Valley, MN, Huron Dressed Beef in Huron, SD, finish carpenter at Dakota Sioux Casino in Watertown, SD, heavy equipment operator for BIA Roads in Sisseton, SD, Plant Manager for over 11 years at Dakota Western Corporation in Agency Village, SD, Plant Manager at Blackbird, Inc. in Sisseton, SD, and was currently employed as the Facilities Manager at the Woodrow Keeble Health Care Center (Indian Health Service) in Sisseton, SD, for the past 4 years. Garry was very skilled and knowledgeable in being an electrician, plumber, carpenter, mechanic, welder, rancher, and anything he could put his hands on. He wasn't afraid to jump right in and learn how to do things, and always did his best because he truly cared. His ultimate dream was to raise cows and buffalo and build a new house for his family. He enjoyed working with his brothers and was happiest when working in the fields. Garry was a very loving husband, father, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, and thought the world of his kids. They were his pride and joy and he was so proud of them. Garry was the kind of man who would help anyone in need and go out of his way to help. His sense of humor, smile, jokes, pranks, and laugh were contagious and he knew how to make you feel better. Someone recently asked him what the secret was to a long and happy marriage and his reply was, "Keep her laughing", and that he did. He was a great mentor and advocate to many with his knowledge, skills, and experience and will forever be in our hearts.
Grateful for sharing his life are his wife Betty; children Chelsey, Kylee, Dustin, and Dirk; brothers Jimmy and Kyleen, Ronnie and Karena, Danny and Theresa; aunt/mother Geraldine (Amos) Cole; uncles Charles Amos, Sr. and Harlan Amos; adopted sisters Rhonda Fancher, Patty Williams, and Caril Amos; adopted brothers Waylon Brown, Adrian Williams, and Dennis Owen, Jr.; adopted grandmother Doris Burshiem; mother-in-law Joan Spider; brothers-in-law Albert Spider, Jr. and David and Lynette Spider; sister-in-law Roxanne (Spider) and Keith Henderson; goddaughter Shalyn Spider; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Preceding him in death were his parents, 1 infant brother, grandparents Norby and Flora (Phelps) Amos and George and Edith Neilan; aunts Sabina (Amos) Shaffer and LaVelva (Amos) Williams; Uncles Gaylord "John" Amos, Melvin "Bose" Amos, Harold Neilan, and Dale Neilan; and special cousin Mike Williams.