Funeral Service for Gary Dale Valnes, 84 of Sisseton, SD will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. at The Living Word Full Gospel Church, Sisseton, SD with Pastor Paul Kosel officiating. Organist will be Sheila Oreskovich. Pallbearers will be Clint Valnes, Cody Valnes, Travis Valnes, Emit Valnes, Cory Jensen, Robb Jensen, and Michael Dempsey. Honorary Pallbearers will be granddaughters Natasha Valnes-Jorgenson, Tiffany Valnes-Maxwell and Summer Valnes, great grandchildren, William Nigg and Terry Moore. Interment will be in the Buffalo Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Eden, SD. There will be visitation on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Gary Dale Valnes was born on September 25, 1936, in Sisseton, SD to Stanford and Alma (Hoem) Valnes, the oldest of five children. They lived on a farm near Buffalo Lake in Marshall County. Gary graduated from Sisseton High School in 1954. After graduation he worked numerous places including Armour and Company meat packing plant in Huron, SD and he worked for farmers putting up and hauling hay.

On April 30, 1961, he married the love of his life, Marsha Jensen, in Tucson, AZ. To this union four children were born: Kevin, Kim, Cully and Tony. The first years of marriage they raised sheep, cattle, and horses on a farm near Buffalo Lake in Marshall County. In 1968 they moved to Vivian, SD and Gary worked for the State Livestock Sanitary Board. In 1970 the family moved to a ranch near Carlyle, MT. In 1972 Gary and his family moved back to Roberts County and began raising hogs. That same year he also started to work for Art Sather Insurance Agency in Sisseton, SD. In 1981 Gary purchased a building in Sisseton and started his own insurance and real estate business. He later sold his business to his son, Tony.

In 1988 Gary and Marsha took on yet another adventure and purchased Camp Dakotah. They lived at the campground working, fixing, and meeting many people throughout their years. They purchased their own camper and traveled south for many winters. While down south Gary started writing an autobiography for his children and grandchildren called "68 years". He also began making wooden rocking horses for his great grandchildren and children in various hospitals. He ended up making 33 rocking horses. Marsha would help Gary paint and decorate the horses. He continued to do this for many years varying what he made: stagecoaches, smaller rocking horses and other horse figurines.

He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren grow. Gary was a member of Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church. He was also an avid horseman and enjoyed training, riding and breaking horses and passed this love of his down to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Gary enjoyed dancing (especially polka), watching his favorite western shows (especially Gunsmoke), listening to country western music, and visiting with friends and relatives up until a couple of years ago when his Alzheimer's and dementia progressed along with other issues. Gary passed away suddenly the morning of September 23 ^rd , just two days shy of his 85 ^th birthday at Coteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton, SD with Marsha by his side.

Gary is survived by his wife, Marsha of Sisseton SD; four children, Kevin (Amy) Valnes of Sisseton, SD, Kim Valnes of Sisseton, SD, Cully (Jayne) Valnes of Hartford, SD, and Tony ( Brittany) Valnes of Sisseton, SD; one sister, Marilyn (Doug) Sandman of Rapid City, SD; two brothers David (Debra) Valnes of Eden, SD, Dennis (Terry) Valnes of Fort Collins, CO ; thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews; brother-in-law Pete (Char) Jensen, Sister in law Glenda Dempsey.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Valnes.

In lieu of flowers please make memorials to: Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church, c/o Marsha Valnes, 11885 460 ^th Ave., Sisseton, SD 57262.