Obituary for Gary A. Refsland
Gary Arlan Refsland, age 73, passed away at his home in St. George, Utah on January 14, 2018.
Gary was born to William and Agnes Refsland in Big Timber on May 5, 1944 and attended the local grade school and high school. In high school, he and several friends formed a band, The Rodans. Gary played the drums and they performed at local dances.
When he was 18, he joined the Navy and served 4 years in San Diego. After returning to Montana, he entered MSU in Bozeman earning both his BA and Master’s degrees in Sociology. Soon after, he went to California to earn his mortician’s license and then returned to Bozeman and was associated with Dokken Nelson Funeral Home. For twenty years, he taught sociology and gerontology at MSU. He also maintained his mortician’s license and annually inspected every mortuary and crematorium in the State of Montana. After retiring from MSU, he was Director of Gerontology for the State of Montana. He wrote proposals and received grants to assess and improve social services for the elderly, and minorities, throughout the state of Montana.
He also was instrumental in developing Montana’s hospice program. As a member of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operation Response Teams), he spent 42 days in New York after 9/11, identifying victims of the World Trade Center attack.
Gary had a unique personality and entertained his family and friends with stories and his goofy sense of humor. He made friends easily at local diners and stores that he frequented. He loved his family, especially his grand nieces and nephews and generously showered them with gifts.
Gary is survived by his sisters Ruth O’Sullivan and Diana Refsland, seven nieces and nephews, and many grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his partner Marjorie Shaw, his parents and his brother David.
Gary was born to William and Agnes Refsland in Big Timber on May 5, 1944 and attended the local grade school and high school. In high school, he and several friends formed a band, The Rodans. Gary played the drums and they performed at local dances.
When he was 18, he joined the Navy and served 4 years in San Diego. After returning to Montana, he entered MSU in Bozeman earning both his BA and Master’s degrees in Sociology. Soon after, he went to California to earn his mortician’s license and then returned to Bozeman and was associated with Dokken Nelson Funeral Home. For twenty years, he taught sociology and gerontology at MSU. He also maintained his mortician’s license and annually inspected every mortuary and crematorium in the State of Montana. After retiring from MSU, he was Director of Gerontology for the State of Montana. He wrote proposals and received grants to assess and improve social services for the elderly, and minorities, throughout the state of Montana.
He also was instrumental in developing Montana’s hospice program. As a member of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operation Response Teams), he spent 42 days in New York after 9/11, identifying victims of the World Trade Center attack.
Gary had a unique personality and entertained his family and friends with stories and his goofy sense of humor. He made friends easily at local diners and stores that he frequented. He loved his family, especially his grand nieces and nephews and generously showered them with gifts.
Gary is survived by his sisters Ruth O’Sullivan and Diana Refsland, seven nieces and nephews, and many grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his partner Marjorie Shaw, his parents and his brother David.
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Previous Events
Graveside Services
Saturday
5
May
1:00 PM
- 1:20 PM
Mountain View Cemetery
West of Big Timber
Big Timber, MT 59011
Memorial Service
Saturday
5
May
2:00 PM
- 3:00 PM
Stenberg Funeral Home
215 Anderson Street
PO Box 723
Big Timber, MT 59011
Memorial Contribution
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