Gary Stensatter

Gary Alan Stensatter, 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 17, 2024, at The Springs in Missoula.

He was born on April 9, 1936, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Harold and Mary Stensatter. Gary was raised in West Fargo, graduating from W. Fargo High in 1954. He joined the USAF that same year, training and working as an air traffic controller, "RapCon," in New York, the Azores, and in Germany.

On March 16, 1957, Gary married Mary Jean Pederson in West Fargo. Two children soon followed, a son, Thomas Alan, and a daughter, Susan Ann.

Gary was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the Air Force to attend college at Montana State University in Bozeman. He graduated with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering and later received his Masters in Civil Engineering at Colorado State, Ft. Collins, CO.

In 1964, the family moved to Missoula, where Gary worked for the Forest Service and various positions in the regional office and on the Lolo National Forest.

In March of 1973, Gary and Terry Druyvestein formed the civil engineering and land surveying company, Stensatter, Druyvestein, and Associates. The firm worked in various fields, including water supply and sanitation, structural, transportation, and environmental engineering. Gary retired in the early 90s and the company is now Druyvestein, Johnson, and Anderson.

Gary had many hobbies throughout his life, which included hunting, fishing, golf, traveling (especially to Norway and Alaska), and flying - oh how he loved to fly his airplanes!

Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, in 1989, his parents, Harold and Mary, brother Wesley, sister Delores Meyer, and great grandson, Patrick Capps.

Gary is survived by his son, Tom (Kris) of Corvallis, MT, daughter Sue Alonzo (Nick) of Missoula, grandsons Brock Alonzo (Erin) of Hamilton, MT, Taylor Alonzo and John Alonzo, both of Missoula, granddaughters, Tiffany Hayes (Chris) of Cheyenne, WY, Courtney Capps (Wesley) of Quantico, VA, Ali Comfort (Garrett) of Salt Lake City, UT, and Kaitlynn Bauer (Jake) of Independence, Oregon. Gary is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren and his special friend, Patti Sall, of Missoula.

A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula with a reception to follow. 

Private burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton where Gary will be laid to rest beside his wife, Jean.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Alzheimer's Association.