Gary Long

Gary Long, age 86 of Spearfish, went home to heaven on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center in Sturgis.

The funeral service will be held 9:30am Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche. Visitation will be held 5 to 7pm Monday at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Interment will take place in Black Hills National Cemetery, will military honors provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard.

A soldier of God and Country. Dr. Gary D. Long was born September 19, 1937, to Orville Leroy and Lela Mae (i.e. Polley) in Harrison County, Missouri. The Lord called Gary home to glory on July 11, 2024. In 1955 Gary graduated from Bethany High School in Bethany, Missouri. He later earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 and was a distinguished ROTC graduate from the University of Missouri while simultaneously commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant. However, before graduating from the University of Missouri, he met Barbara Cain in the fall semester of 1957. One day while in the library, Barbara overheard Gary tell one of his friends “I am going to marry that girl.” True to his word, Gary and Barbara were married on January 29,1958. His military career began with Barbara by his side as they started their 66 plus years of life together. They drove off in their 1956 Chevy Bel Air with what little belongings they had to his first training of his military career at Fort Carson, CO; then to Fort Sill, OK; and Fort Benning, GA where he completed jump school. This was just the beginning of his distinguished military career that consisted of 30 years of dedicated service being stationed in Augsburg, Germany; Berlin, Germany; Fort Hood, TX; The Pentagon, Fort Riley, KS; Fort Monroe, VA; Fort Sam Houston, TX and Fort Belvoir, VA. as well as being an ROTC instructor at the University of Missouri. Col. Gary D. Long retired in 1989 after 30 years of service to our country. Gary is survived by his wife Barbara and his sister Sandra Klindt. God blessed Gary and Barbara with four children, Gina Seiler, Grant (Manena) Long, Gary (Robin) Long and Gloriann (Brandon) Ruby; twelve grandchildren, Andrew (Jessie) and Adam (Desirae) Seiler, Colton, Rachel, Grace, Greyson Long, Julia Woods and Bijou Long, Rebekah (Lucas) Trimble, Katelynn (Zack)Gustin, Lainna and Rhoni Ruby; and 11 great-grandchildren. Gary’s desire to study the Bible led him to enroll in Dallas Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Master of Theology degree in 1969 and then a Doctor of Theology degree in 1972. With over 30 years of Christian ministry, Gary pastored a church in San Antonio, Texas; was the director of the Salado, Texas Bible Conference; the President of Providence Theological Seminary in Colorado Springs, Colorado, later relocated to Franklin, Tennessee; and he authored five theological books. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, sister Karen, brothers Jackie and Larry Long, and grandson Victor. 

Gary’s story of salvation dates back to a tragedy in 1953. He and all three of his siblings contracted polio. His younger brother Jackie did not survive. Haunted by his younger brother’s death, while stationed in Berlin at the height of the Berlin Wall crisis, Gary asked his Army Chaplin if he would ever see his brother again. The Chaplin’s response was “Do you believe the Bible?” Gary said, “yes.” The Chaplin opened the Bible and read Romans 10:13 “For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” The Chaplin then asked, “Have you ever called on the name of the Lord?” Gary, said no. Chaplin exhorted “Do so, and you will be able to see your brother again.” Gary responded by calling on the name of the Lord. This was the beginning of a changed life that resulted in the bearing of much fruit to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. A Soldier of God and Country.

Funeral Service

9:30 A.M. – Tuesday – July 16, 2024

First Baptist Church

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Officiants

Pastor Tim Smith

Pastor Joe Kelly

Congregational Hymns

“Living for Jesus”

“He Included Me”

“Where He Leads Me”

Interment

12:30 P.M. – Tuesday – July 16, 2024

Black Hills National Cemetery

Sturgis, South Dakota

Military Honors

Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard

Following the service, everyone is invited to the 

church basement for a light lunch and a time of fellowship.