Gary Jonson

Gary Wilford Jonson, 81 of rural Henning, Minnesota died Saturday, January 10, 2026, at his home on the east end of West Battle Lake, with his family at his side.

Gary was born on August 22, 1944, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the son of John and Irene (Holt) Jonson. He was baptized and confirmed in the First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake. Gary graduated from Battle Lake High School in 1962. He was attending Fergus Falls Community College before volunteering for the draft in the U.S. Army 1963 as a Chaplains Assistant.

Following his honorable discharge in 1965, Gary married Peggy Sue Marble on March 17, 1967, in Ft. Knox, Kentucky at the 7th Avenue Chapel. He continued his education at Moorhead State College, graduating in 1970, with a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration. He was employed with North Dakota State Employment Service in Fargo, North Dakota and was serving in the North Dakota Air National Guard from 1970 thru 1974. 1974 he reenlisted in the U. S. Army as an Administrative Specialist.

His duty assignments were Ft. Ord, California 1974, Grand Forks, North Dakota (recruiting) 1975, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana 1976 (where he was the Installation’s Soldier of the Year), Medical Command Korea, Seoul, South Korea 1979, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado 1980, Pusan Storage Facility, Pusan, South Korea 1984, Ft. Knox, Kentucky 1985, and finally returned to Fitzsimons AMC later 1985. In 1991 he was detailed to General Schwarzkopf’s staff for Operation Desert Storm. He retired at Fitzsimons AMC receiving his Honorable Discharge after a combined 27 years of active federal service in 1993.

After retirement Gary and Peg moved to Maple Grove, MN where he attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science, 1995. Initially Gary was a mortician with O.E. Larson-Osborne Mortuary in Minneapolis, then in 1998, they moved to rural Henning, Minnesota living on the east end of West Battle Lake. Gary worked for Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake, Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton and the Glende-Nilson Funeral Homes in Ashby, Battle Lake, Evansville, and Fergus Falls. He retired from funeral service in 2015.

Gary enjoyed baseball, playing with the Battle Lake Lakers town team, and coaching his son's Little League teams. He was a member of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps "The Gauchos" in Fargo, ND. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Leaf Mountain Lutheran Church. He belonged to the Battle Lake Lions Club, and enjoyed working a number of years with the Battle Lake Wenonga Days Parade.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Peggy; three children, Robert J. (Elidia Quintero) Jonson of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, Cinnamon Kelley Jonson of Ortonville, and Dr. Gary M. (Kristi Kornder) Jonson of Prior Lake; three grandchildren Brittney, Bryan, and Henry; four brothers-in-law, Robert N. (Mary) Marble, Max L. Marble, Orly Bjerketvedt, and Tim Miller; nephew, John (Lacey) Severson and family of Alexandria; three half-sisters, Sharon (Ed) Fjestad of Pelican Rapids, Karla (Larry) Netland of Bagley, and Linda Riebe of Frazee, and by numerous relatives and friends. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Rita Bjerketvedt, and Nancy Miller; sister-in-law Sandy Kittleson, and brothers-in-law Bill Marble and Richard Kittleson.

To Honor Gary's spirit and his love for his daughter Kelley, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Monarch Heights Group Home, 501 Burdick Ave, Ortonville, MN 56278 in his memory.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00AM Monday, July 6, 2026, at Leaf Mountain Lutheran Church, rural Clitherall with visitation one hour prior.

Inurnment will follow with Full Military Honors at 3:00PM on July 6 at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery by Little Falls, Minnesota.

Arrangements by Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Battle Lake.