Gary Frentz

Gary Frentz was born April 19, 1954, in Watertown, S.D., to Victor and Gladys Frentz. Gary was a cowboy until the end.
He dearly loved his South Sheridan Ranch which he built with his own two hands. He worked the land, raised horses and sheep and taught his twin daughters to walk the gravel road home. He was the most happy on horseback, hunting with dear friends, on his four wheeler or side by side or outside looking at his heavenly view from the porch.
Gary graduated from Watertown (S.D.) High School and went on to college at Northern State University. He continued on and earned a masters degree in education from Billings, Mont. He began his career as the financial director for Lake Area Technical College in Watertown and later as the financial aid director of Scottsbluff Nebraska College. He went on to be director of financial aid for Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D.
Upon his return to Watertown, Gary opened his Floor To Ceiling Store in Watertown in 1988. In 1993, he became a vocational rehab counselor. Serving his clients was one of his greatest honors.
In 2013 he became a counselor for SBVI serving the blind and visually impaired in Rapid City, S.D. He retired in 2014 and built his dream cabin in Custer, S.D. He couldn’t sit still and drove the Custer Prairie Hills Transit bus for school children and veterans. He finally rested after ending his work career as a campground attendant for Custer State Park where he and Nancy first honeymooned in 1975.
He will be remembered as a man who loved to tinker on horse trailers, serve his community and protect his family. When he spoke, you listened, for it wasn’t often.
Gary, a loving husband of 48 years, devoted father, proud papa, mentor to many and cowboy through and through, died Dec. 18, 2023, peacefully at his home in Custer. He was 69.
His memory will be kept alive by his adoring wife, Nancy; his twin girls, Kate Frentz (Harley Hanson) and Kelly (Eric) McMillan; his brother, Rick (Julie) Frentz; brother in law, Kurt Oleson; and his grandchildren, Hannah and Hunter McMillan.
His family wishes to thank his friends from the VFW and anyone who ever realized how rare and special Gary was.
Funeral services were Dec. 23 at Crossroads Church in Custer with committal services following at Custer Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Suncatchers Therapeutic Riding in Rapid City, S.D., or VFW Kenneth Kuper Post 3442 in Custer.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.