Gary Wining

Gary Edgar Wining as born in Polson, Mont., on March 5, 1943, to Grace and Harry Wining, the youngest of three sons, Raymond and Robert (deceased), and eldest of two surviving daughters Lois and Karen. He passed away March 16, 2019.

He was very active in youth activities joining the Boy Scouts and eventually an Eagle Scout at sixteen years old. He loved hiking, hunting, swimming and snorkeling in Echo Lake. Gary attended Flathead High School where he played varsity football, graduating in 1962. Gary also spent his summers working on the Allard ranch in St. Ignatius and was a counselor at the Boy Scouts camp at Melita Island.

Upon graduation from high school, Gary attended some college studying Geology before joining the military. He had hopes of becoming a helicopter pilot, but was unable to realize this ambition because of a hearing impairment.

It was later that Gary met an endearing educator Connie. They had a mutual love of family and the outdoors and decided to become a family and married in 1971. He adopted Connie’s three young children Robyn, Erin and Shawne, and then extended to include Darrol Iverson. Now a family man, Gary furthered his endeavors by working in Alaska as a mechanic, on the Alaskan Pipeline, taking him away from the family for long stretches of time.

His first grandchild Kyle Wining came to live with Gary and Connie, at age fourteen, for his high school years. He gave both of them so much joy.

In late 1970’s he began his tenure at Frenchtown paper mill where a disability forced him into early retirement in 2001.

During Gary’s lifetime he volunteered with the Arlee Fire Dept. and became the first of two EMT’s for Arlee. He sat on the school and the Arlee Sewer board. He was instrumental in the construction of the Arlee Sewer and received State recognition for his work.

Gary became a real estate agent and eventually a broker with his wife Connie as they founded Jocko Valley Realty. He was proud to be a Mason with Bigfork Lodge and practiced their code of ethics. In later life, Gary enjoyed his passion for restoration of classic cars, Model T’s, researching his family’s lineage and trap doors.

Gary is survived by his wife Connie of 48 years; his three children, son Erin Wining, daughters Robyn (Pete Jackson) and Shawne Wining (Brian Stroker), Darrol Iverson (Christina); Kyle Wining ( Lindsey); also, grandson Kenny Jones, granddaughters Crystal Moose, Tiffany Dickson ( James), Brandy Calhoun, Reagan and Mason Iverson; great grandchildren Karra, Triston, Aidon, Issac and Nichole; his two sisters Karen Schmidt (Pat) and Lois Wechsler, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Viewing took place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 23 at Jocko Valley Baptist Church in Arlee. Services were followed by a reception at noon. Family and friends left promptly for burial at 1:45 p.m. in the Ronan cemetery next to his brothers.