Gary Eugene White

Gary Eugene White, “mashkawaa-giizhig” meaning “Strong Sky”, age 69, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at his home on Sunday, October 27th, 2024, in Onigum. He was born on August 20, 1955, in Cass Lake, MN, the son of Shirley (Ellis) and Lyman White, Sr.

Gary worked at DRM Fish and Wildlife from 1984 until his passing, leaving him just shy of 40 years of doing what he loved for a living. He did everything from start to finish, from netting to hatching and stocking whitefish. Gary also hatched walleye and helped stocked local lakes. In his younger years he enjoyed little league baseball, park board football, high school football, and Golden Gloves Boxing for Native American Indian Center in Minneapolis. Gary moved back to Onigum where he met his wife Deb K. He played softball for the Onigum Nighthawks. Gary loved being outdoors, ricing, hunting, netting, and ATVing. He served on the Natural Resource Indian Committee, served as an electrician for LLBO, and he was a Leech Lake Wildland Fire Fighter for many years. Gary obtained his boiler’s license for DRM. He liked to prank his family and his co-workers. Above all else, he loved spending time with his grandson, who he was so proud of, especially enjoyed watching him box. Gary was very close with his devoted son-in-law, who took him to all his appointments and never left his side. Gary will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Those greeting Gary in death are his wife, Debra Kay White; grandson, Baby William Bowstring IV; parents, Shirley and Lyman, Sr.; sister, Debra Isham; grandparents, John and Frances Ellis and Jenny and Harry Smith; aunts, Delores Wakefield, Leota Whitebird, Dolly White, Carol Goose, Joanne Losh; uncles, Randy, Marvin, John, and Donald White, Delbert and Myron Ellis, Earl Wright, Harry, Kenny, Roger, Lavern “Cubby”, and Chebeeb “Willy” Smith; niece; and nephews.

Those that Gary leaves behind to forever cherish his loving memory are his daughter, Alicia (William “Bill”) Bowstring; grandson, Cai Bowstring; brother, Lyman White, Jr.; sisters, Vicki White, Carol White, Marilyn Harrison; mother-in-law, Marcy Buck; special niece, Ashley Harrison; special nephew, Bradley White; uncles, Joe Joe White, Frank (Linda) Reese; brother-in-law, Curtis Isham;  sisters-in-law, Cindy Morris, Bonnie Amundson; special friend, Sarah Waybenais; his cat, “Guy”; numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Gary will begin at 6:00 p.m., Friday, November 1st, 2024, at the Onigum Community Center, and will continue Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at the Walker Area Community Center, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 11:00 a.m. Father Matthew Cobb will officiate. Gary’s honorary urn bearers are Bill Pell, Chuck Bobolink, Ben Cameron, Sr., John Finn, Russ Turney, Randy White, Jr., all his family, friends, and co-workers.

Gary’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com 

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Gary Eugene White, please visit our Tree Store.