Gary Earl Olmsted

Gary E. Olmsted, 76, of Mandan, North Dakota passed away on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, Aug. 13, at First Lutheran Church, 408 9th St. NW, Mandan, with Pastor Phil Leer officiating. A reception will follow the service at the Mandan Eagles Club, 1400 Collins Ave.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Monday, August 12, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. A prayer service will begin at 7:00 PM. 

Burial will be held at Mandan Union Cemetery, Mandan.

Gary was born on March 8th, 1948 to Charles and Kathrine (Kary) Olmsted in Bismarck, ND. He attended Bismarck public schools and graduated from Bismarck High School in 1966. While at Bismarck High School, Gary was active in football, basketball, track & field and legion baseball. He was very successful in athletics and received many accolades and awards. This talent and passion for sports allowed him to continue a very successful athletic career in college. Gary attended 2 years at Bismarck Junior College where he graduated and was then recruited to continue his sports career at Minot State University. During his career at Minot State, Gary was a 3-sport athlete. He was a three-year letterman in football (1968-1970), a two-year letterman in baseball (1969 & 1970) and a one-year letterman in track (1969). He also served as assistant track coach in 1971. Gary helped his Beaver football team to a conference championship in 1970. Individually, he was named to the All-conference team and voted the NDCAC’s Outstanding Graduating Senior in baseball his senior year (1970). As a result, Gary was inducted into the Minot State University Hall of Fame in 1992 as part of the 1970 Minot State Beaver Football team and again in 1997 as an individual athlete. Gary graduated from Minot State in 1971 with a degree in education with aspirations to be a coach and teacher.

In 1969 Gary met the love of his life, Shirley Hanson and the two were married on June 6, 1970 in Sherwood, ND. In July 1973 their daughter, Kristie, was born. A son, Scott was born in 1974 and son, Chad, was born in 1976. Gary got his first teaching job in 1971 in Center, ND which also included coaching. In 1972 he accepted a position at Mandan High School where we taught until his retirement in May of 2002. While at Mandan High, Gary coached basketball, football and track and field. While Gary enjoyed all sports, his true passion was track and field. He became the head boy’s track coach in 1974 and held that position until 1994. Gary’s proudest accomplishment was his 1984 season. During that year the team was undefeated in both their indoor and outdoor seasons. Gary was ultimately voted WDA coach of the year and also ND State Track Coach of the year in 1984. He was also voted WDA coach of the year again in 1988. Gary cared about his athletes both on and off the field and he will always carry a special place in his heart for each and every one of them. 

Gary was always very active and played fastpitch and slow pitch until he was 45 years old. He was also a very avid hunter and fisherman. He had many close friends that also shared this passion which brought about yearly hunting and fishing trips which he enjoyed immensely. Gary shared his love of the outdoors with his precious family. The Olmsted’s spent many weekends camping, boating and fishing. Upon retirement from coaching, Gary and Shirley purchased a lake home on Lake Sakakawea and spent many summers there making memories with their kids, grandkids and lake friends. He was a lifetime member of the Bismarck-Mandan Elk’s Lodge, First Lutheran Church and also a member of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. One of Gary’s most special titles was that of grandfather to his two granddaughters, Bryn and Jenna. Gary’s positive impact was so monumental that Bryn will follow in his footsteps and become a teacher and Jenna has a passion for all sports, especially track and field, and enjoys working at the State Track Meet.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shirley, his daughter Kristie Rode (Josh) of Steele, ND, and son Chad Olmsted (Sarah Antosh), Roseville, MN, granddaughters Bryn Rode and Jenna Rode, Steele, ND. Siblings Charles Olmsted Jr. (Gloria), Joann Copeland (Carl), Judy Nelson (Steve) of Bismarck and Vickie Weisenburger (Allen) of Noblesville, IN, brothers and sisters-in-law Jerry & Karen Price, San Diego, CA, Wendel Mongeon, Fargo, Rick & Bonnie Loomis, Winston-Salem, NC and many special nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his infant son, Scott David, parents, Charles and Katherine Olmsted, his brother Ronald Olmsted and his mother and father-in-law, Donald and Ada Hanson, and sister-in-law, Donna Mongeon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Mandan Foundation for Education.