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Submitted: 7/31/15 • Approved: 8/2/15 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R228723-G0-S3
GARY D.
AKINS SR.
1936 - 2006
Gary Akins was born in Miles City, Montana on the 9th of April, 1936 to Hallie McMillan Akins and Jerry Akins. Gary was proud of the Miles City homestead of grandparents Alva Henry McMillan of South Henderson Illinois and Mary (Cooksey) McMillan of Burlington Iowa. In 1945, Gary moved with his mother to Billings, Montana. In 1953, and for the next 30 years, Gary was married to Constance (Connie) Claudette Blankenship of Billings, mother of all his children. Gary, Connie and their entire families were active members of the First Christian Church in Billings.
Gary served in the Montana National Guard and spent the early part of his adult life in the drycleaning business in Billings where he worked at Rainbow Cleaners along with his mother, Hallie. In June of 1961 at the age of 25, he moved his wife Connie, their four children Gary Jr, Doug, Roy, and Sherena and his brother Duffy to Dell Rapids, South Dakota to take a position at Dells Cleaners.
Gary´s passions included automobiles, motorcycling, hunting, country music, scouting, and fraternizing with friends. He cherished his time with the Moose Lodge in Sioux Falls where he served in various positions including Chapter 503 Governor. Following a lifetime of hard work that started at age 17 and continued for more than 50 years, until he could work no longer, Gary moved back to Dell Rapids to Friendship Village in August of 2005.
Gary´s wife Therese preceded him in death two years earlier in Sioux Falls South Dakota where they had lived since their marriage in 1988. He was also preceded in death by mother Hallie McMillan Akins Huggins of Kelso Washington, uncle Clyde Alva McMillan of Billings Montana, and aunt Ellen McMillan Rafn of Seattle Washington.
He is survived by loving children (and their spouses) Gary Dean Akins Jr (Emily) of Rockwell, Iowa; Douglas Akins (Karen) of Dell Rapids; Roy Akins (Emma) of Port Arthur, Washington; Sherena Kost (Russell) of Sioux Falls; Therese´s son and Gary´s stepson John of Sioux Falls, brother John Marshall "Duffy" Huggins (Joey) of Nevada City, California; eleven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and many friends who will miss his warm grin, cheerful nature, and exaggerated stories.
Contributed on 7/31/15
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Record #: 228723