Gary Eugene Schwartz was born October 28, 1954, at Madison, South Dakota, to Vernon and Jean (Lewis) Schwartz. He died Tuesday, December 10, 2002, near Sinai, South Dakota, the result of injuries received in a motor-vehicle accident. Gary graduated from DeSmet High School in 1972 and from SDSU in 1976 with a degree in Animal Science. He worked as an Ag Extension educator in Day County with the Cooperative Extension Service. He participated in one of the last U.S.-Soviet agricultural exchange programs of the 1970s. He returned to the farm near Oldham and also worked as a crop adjuster with North Central Crop Insurance. On December 31, 1982, he married Nancy Swanson in Brookings. Gary was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings. He belonged to Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and served as adviser to the Brookings chapter. He served as president of the South Dakota Sheep Growers. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, helping coach the 6th grade boys basketball team, and helping young 4-H members with their projects. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Swanson, of Brookings; son, Zach, at home; a brother, Frank (Carole) Schwartz of Raleigh, N.C.; three sisters: Cynthia (Loren) Marzahn of Redfield, S.Dak., Susan Potter of Angier, N.C., and Carolyn Lewis of Angier, N.C.; step-brothers and step-sisters; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and step-mother.