Gary James McKinney of Devils Lake, ND, passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks ND at the age of 70. Gary was born Dec. 17, 1953. He was raised in Tooele, UT and was the son of Eva Darlene and Ira Arval McKinney.
Gary had many adventures in life which led him to travel. He enlisted in the Army and served from 1971 – 1975. After this, he worked for the Dept. of Defense until 1977. The following 10 years, Gary worked for the Dept. of Interior, working with both the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Gary was lucky enough to find love twice in his lifetime. He married a wonderful woman named Etta Vario, and together they had Gary’s first son, Curtis. Although their marriage did not last forever, their friendship sure did. Etta was a great friend to Gary and his family over the years. Always showing her love and support along the way. Gary again found love, in North Dakota of all places, and married Lori Kuchar. Together they continued their travels, living on several different Wildlife Refuges along the way. Together they had a daughter (Amanda) and a son (Russel). They ended up back in N.D. for good in 1985, where Gary took a job as an Apprentice Lineman at Western Area Power Administration.
Gary had many passions in life. He loved to hunt, fish, and participating in Cowboy Action Competition Shooting. Let’s not forget teaching his kids how to shoot. Always retrieve those shells, meltdown the lead, pop the primers, and the step by step of the reloading process. He was a proud member of the NRA and used to be very active in the Lake Region Shooting Sports Association. He was also a proud Mason, once serving as Grand Master of the Devils Lake Masonic Lodge. Gary was one of many Masons in the McKinney family. He also took on miniature horses and started a “Short” lived business called McKinney’s Minnies, which had the whole family involved with breaking and training to pull.
Later in life, Lori and Gary went their separate ways and Gary’s next adventure took him to Belfield, ND. He loved being out there and made many friends along the way. But as his health started to decline, and news of his first grandchild on the way… his heart took him back to Devils Lake where he could be closer to his family, and he resided there until his final days.
Gary leaves behind his daughter, Amanda Georgeson of Devils Lake, ND, Son, Russel McKinney of Devils Lake, Grandsons Hunter McKinney of St. Michael, ND, Sawyer McKinney of St. Michael, ND, and his sister Judy (Larry) Marshall of South Jordan, UT.
Gary is proceeded in death by his father, Ira Arvel McKinney, Mother Eva Darlene McKinney, Sister Sharon Kay McKinney, and his first-born son, Curtis Grant McKinney.
There will be a gathering of family and friends on Friday, Dec. 20, beginning at 12 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home in Devils Lake, with Funeral Service and Masonic Rites beginning at 2 p.m. A burial with Military Honors will follow at the Devils Lake Cemetery.
