Gary Bryngelson
Gary Eugene Bryngelson, 86, passed away due to complications of pneumonia on December 19, 2022, at Sanford Medical Center, Bemidji, MN, with his family by his side.
Gary was born to Roy Eugene Bryngelson and Edith Irene Cartwright Bryngelson on January 10, 1936, in Valley City, ND. Gary was baptized, confirmed, and married at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Valley City. From grade school through high school, he attended the public schools where he was active in football, track, plays, and Boy Scouts. He graduated from Valley City High School in 1954. In 1958 he graduated with a BS Degree from Valley City State University with majors in business and mathematics.
Gary married Shirley
Cassatt on June 8, 1957. They had two sons and two daughters, Kim, Kristine, Todd, and Tori. After graduating from college, Gary taught high school business, computer, and math classes at Sanborn, North Central, and Pillsbury all in ND. He also taught computer at Central High School in Grand Forks, ND. Gary and Shirley bought the Dairy Dream Drive-in in Cooperstown, ND in 1958, and operated it for 19 years. He developed the pizza burger there.
While in Cooperstown, Gary continued his education by attending the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. Here he was immersed in the area of computer technology. After selling the Dairy Dream, the family moved to Wilton, MN. Gary taught Business Administration for five years at Bemidji State University. In 1978, Gary and Shirley purchased the A & W in Bemidji, which they operated until 1988. After the A&W, they operated a hot dog carousel for a year and a half in the Bemidji Mall. Gary was also one of the mayors of Wilton.
During retirement, Gary raised multiple varieties of birds, had horses, gardened, built Grandfather clocks, and loved to cook for his family and grandchildren. He and Shirley were members of First Lutheran Church in Bemidji.
He is survived by his wife Shirley, Wilton, MN: four children, Kim (Natalya Johnson) Bryngelson, Wilton, MN, Kristine (Larry) Lyght, Bemidji, Todd (Jodene) Bryngelson), Worland, WY and Tori Bryngelson, Bemidji, MN; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and two sisters, Colleen (Charles) Zick and Kathleen Gillund. He was preceded in death by his parents and several brothers- in law and sisters-in-law.
There will be a private family Celebration of Life this summer.