Gary Len Cummings was born December 28, 1949 in Mitchell, SD to Les and Myrle (LaDue) Cummings. His parents owned the Wayside Inn Restaurant in Mitchell until Les joined the Standard Oil Bulk Service in Castlewood, SD. Les jokingly told people that "You expect more from Standard, but you get Les". Living by Lake Poinsett, Gary and his brothers, Dave and Ron, learned at an early age how to fish and hunt from their Dad. Gary enjoyed pheasant hunting the most and was able to hunt for over 50 years.

Gary attended school in Castlewood graduating from high school in 1968. He received his business degree from Watertown Business University in Watertown, SD and started his career as the Business Manager at Jenkins Nursing Home. Gary moved to Aberdeen, SD and started working for Cook's Office Machines. It was during their Grand Opening that he met his future bride, Linda Jamtgaard. Linda worked as a teller at American Federal Savings & Loan. The manager asked if she would stop by Cook's and welcome them to Aberdeen. She did, they dated, then were married May 9, 1981 in Beresford, SD.  Gary also worked in the insurance business for over 30 years while living in Aberdeen before retiring to Linda's family farm in Beresford, SD in 2004.

A special surprise arrived in 1988, Molly Jamtgaard Cummings, came into their life by adoption. It was 5:13pm on Super Bowl Sunday when Gary answered the phone and the voice said we have a beautiful baby girl in Sioux Falls for you who was born on December 28th. Gary stopped her and said "she's a keeper" because that was his birthday, too.  Picked her up on Monday morning and when we left the Agency, they gave us a bottle of milk and two diapers and sent us on our way saying, "now you are parents – good luck".

Gary was noted for telling jokes. He would have one for any occasion but enjoyed telling Ole and Lena jokes the most because Linda was Norwegian. At coffee groups they would expect at least one story from him but usually got more than one. He had so many that we numbered them so when we went anywhere, Linda would ask him which ones he was going to tell. He would respond with #7, #23, and #86 so she would go visit with other people.

Grateful for sharing his life is his wife, Linda; daughter, Molly; brother, Ron (Theresa) Cummings; sister, Lesa (Jeff) Dahl; sisters-in-law, Lorayne Cummings and Janice (Gary) Coleman; nieces, Ashley and Sara Cummings, Heidi (Chris) Howard; nephews, Andy Cummings, Jarred Dahl, Michael (Laurie) Silva, Nathan (Kirsten) Silva, Richard Silva, and Sean (Christi) Coleman. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Dave; nephew Jacob Dahl; niece Angela Cummings Daniel; and sister-in-law Jeanette Silva.

Gary went to hunt with the Master on December 6, 2020. The family will be planning a celebration of Gary's life in 2021. Memorials can be made to a Humane Society in your local area or your favorite charity.

Thank you, God, for putting Gary into this family. We love him and will miss him very much.