Gary Sandland

Mass of Christian Burial for Gary Sandland, 70, of Ft. Yates, will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 30, 2024, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Ft. Yates. Burial will be in the St. Peter Catholic Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. A Rosary Service will be held at 7:00 PM, Friday, November 29, 2024, at the Kesling Funeral Chapel in Mobridge. Gary passed away, Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck.
Gary was born on August 18th, 1954, in McLaughlin, SD to Howard and Eva Sandland. He lived on the family ranch his entire life and also raised his children on the same family ranch.
Gary had two older siblings Herbert Palmer, Marcella Faye, who he called "Hulla" for short as he couldn't say her full name. He also had a younger sister named Elsa who passed away not too long after she was born. He always made sure that his baby sister's grave was taken care of at all times.
He married Marilyn L. Bendickson on December 10th, 1976, and together raised five children on the family ranch. Rhonda, the late Roxane, James, Gary Jr., (Jenny Sandland) and Becky (Charles) Gullickson. Gary and Marilyn were in beef cattle ranching for 40 years before he retired in the spring of 2021. He kept a few head of cattle to keep him busy for another couple of years. Our father took pride in his ranching business and made sure they were always well fed especially during the hard winter months. Rain, snow or shine he would always be out there checking on them. His cows were as he would say "my women!" Gary also would go out and help his fellow friends and family during round up times. They all helped each other throughout the years until he retired or they retired. They could always count on each other when one was hurt and needed help feeding or checking cows. That's how close he was to his friends and family as they meant so much to him.
March 1st, 1992, Gary, Richard Hach, Jerome Bruggman, Mike Labrensz, and Steve Incha restarted the Fort Yates Volunteer Fire District. No matter how big or how small the fire was they were all ready to go out and help the local wildland fire fighters all over the reservation. There were a few big fires that destroyed a lot of acres of land such as the Kenel fire, and the highway 6 fire. They helped over 70+ fires over the years and their wives would get together and make food for everyone. The Fort Yates Volunteer Fire District still operates today with more volunteers: Dale and Nancy Leingang, Brandon and Kim Leingang, Nick and George Leingang, Kurt Schaff, and Jerome Bruggman. We would like to say thank you to all that came to be a part of the FY Volunteer Fire District crew.
Gary enjoyed many things such as rodeos, PBR, concerts, comedy shows, demolition derby's, mud runs, and he loved his old western TV shows and western movies. He could watch Gunsmoke over and over and he would say "I never saw this one." He also liked to shake dice with friends and family as well. They'd have a get together and he would bust out the dice right away. He liked to have a good old time wherever he was at. He liked watching NFL games and would cheer on his favorite players. He didn't really have a team, but he cheered on the Eagles and Green Bay. They had Wentz and Tucker Kraft that were locals that played for the NFL teams. He really got into prairie dog shooting these past few years and he would have his counter on him at all times. He was a part of the Shields-Selfridge Sportsman club. They would organize the annual prairie dog hunt, egg and lollipop hunt, and the annual Selfridge days.
Gary will be deeply missed by his children Rhonda, the late Roxane, James, Gary Jr., Becky, and his grandchildren, Teresa, Ashlynn, James Jr. and Kaden Sandland, Abigail and Jackson Howard, and his two great grandchildren Hazel Senn, and Sebastain Yellow Hammer.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Eva Sandland, his late brother Herbert Palmer, wife Marilyn Sandland and his late daughter Roxane Sandland.
We would like to say thank you to all the nurses and doctors that helped take care of our father while he was at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck, ND. Especially the 7th floor nurses you went above and beyond for our father, and we greatly appreciate it. Also, a special thank you to Wade Sandland, Richard Hach and Bryant Traxinger for driving our father to his appointments over the years.
Our father had so many friends and we are deeply sorry if we omitted any of them.