In Memory of

Ga ry D. 
Westra

 

Gary D. Westra, 81, of Platte, SD passed away Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Platte Care Center, Platte. Funeral Services will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at the First Reformed Church in Platte. A Committal Service will follow at the Platte City Cemetery. Visitation will be held at First Reformed Church from 6:00 - 7:00 PM Monday, September 28, 2009 with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service. 

Gary D. Westra was born June 1, 1928 to Neil and Minnie (Plooster) Westra on his parents farm seven miles East of Platte, SD. He joined a big sister, Susie and brother, Vince. Gary attended country schools through the eighth grade.

On August 24, 1948 he united in marriage to Florence R. Demmon in Corsica and they celebrated their 61st Anniversary together this year. They lived on a farm five miles East of Platte and in 1960 purchased their own farm three miles North and one mile East of Geddes, SD. They farmed and raised livestock until retiring in 1980, moving to Platte in 1983. 

Gary enjoyed farm life and was always willing to help out his neighbors and friends. After retiring, he took up golf and achieved 3 holes-in-one at the Lake Platte Golf Club. He also was skilled at woodworking and built many pieces of furniture and models of farms, schools and churches. He enjoyed hunting and was affiliated with the First Reformed Church in Platte. He loved to visit and was a friend to all.

Those honored to have been a part of Gary’s life include: his wife, Florence of Platte, SD; his sister, Susie Maas of Washington; three sisters-in-law: Donna Westra of Platte, SD, Hazel Rickards and Helen Antonson of Washington; a brother-in-law, George Demmon of Oregon; many nieces, nephews and good friends. 

Gary was preceded in death by: his parents, Neil and Minnie Westra; his brother, James Vince Westra and several aunts and uncles. 




Together

We held hands through fire and smoke
And hail that made us quake,
We shook and trembled in tempest winds,
We bent but didn’t break.

We withstood the snow and sleet
And many kinds of weather,
But the best part was, through all of this,
We grew old together.