Gary David Siegel

Gary David Siegel, 75, of Hawley, MN, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Sanford Hospice House, Fargo, ND.

Gary David Siegel was born May 7, 1950, to William and Beatrice (Jorgenson) Siegel in Moorhead, Minnesota. He grew up in rural Hawley, Minnesota, where he attended Hawley Elementary and graduated from Hawley High School in 1968. While in school Gary was active in a variety of things, especially music and sports.

After graduation he attended Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, on a music scholarship before transferring to Moorhead State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in music education. He started his teaching career in Swan River, Manitoba, Canada, where he taught for one year and was celebrated as the Teacher of the Year. After leaving Swan River, Gary continued his teaching career in Oriska, North Dakota, where he first met his future wife, Bobbi. He further pursued his education at Valley City State College where he earned his degree in business.

Gary married the love of his life, Bobbi Johnson, on May 5, 1979, at First Lutheran Church in Valley City, North Dakota. In August of 1980, the couple accepted teaching jobs in Turtle Lake, North Dakota, where they both taught for fourteen years. Gary taught both music and business and coached junior high football at Turtle Lake-Mercer High School. In the fall of 1994, the family moved to Hawley, Minnesota, where he taught music and computer keyboarding for three years.

Gary was always looking for new adventures, so he decided to go back to school again, attending MSCTC in Detroit Lakes where he graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in computer networking and Internet technology. After completing this degree, he began working for UAS Service Corporation in Hawley in a Network IT role until he retired in October of 2016.

As his three sons grew, Gary became active with the Boy Scouts of America as an Assistant Scoutmaster for both Troop 88 in Turtle Lake and then for Troop 656 in Hawley where he also became a member of the Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow. Gary was also active with music at Trinity Lutheran Church in Turtle Lake, as well as conducting the bell choir at Hawley Lutheran for several years. His hobbies included golfing, woodworking, traveling, playing solitaire on his computer, and just spending time with his wife and family.

Gary is survived by his wife Bobbi of 46 years; his three sons, Christopher (Bobbi) Siegel of Morris, Minnesota; Ryan (Shelly) Siegel of Keizer, Oregon; and Aaron (Erik) Brandenburger-Siegel of Las Vegas, Nevada. Also surviving Gary are his five grandchildren, Karli (Austin) Lewis, Madelyn Siegel, Connor Siegel, Violet Siegel, and Autumn Siegel and his great-granddaughter Gigi Lewis. He is survived also by his siblings Charles Siegel of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Joanne (Ron) Sauvageau of Moorhead; Tim (Cindy) Siegel of Moorhead; Helen (Pete) Montplaisir of Fargo; brother-in-law Pete Olson of Audubon; and brothers and sisters-in-law Teri (Terry) Feigitsch of Minot; John (Jan) Johnson, and Jeff (Lisa) Johnson all of Valley City, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, William and Beatrice Siegel; his sister, Marleen Olson; his sister-in-law Debbie Siegel; his father and mother-in-law, Willis and Mavis Johnson; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mark and Kathryn Nordeen.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 2:00 P.M., with visitation for one hour before the service, at Wright Funeral Home, Hawley, MN.