Gary L. Williams
Gary L. Williams
Gary Williams passed away peacefully at his home, rural Clontarf, Saturday, October 24, 2026 at the age of 79.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 11 a.m. at West Zion Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday from 5-7:00 p.m. at Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson and at the church for one hour before the service.
Gary Lee Williams was born August 27, 1947, in Benson, MN, to Raymond and Helen (Allpress) Williams. The youngest of five children, he grew up in Benson and graduated from Benson High School, Class of 1965.
August 13, 1966, Gary married his high school sweetheart, Colleen "Connie" Harstad, at West Zion Lutheran Church in rural Hancock. Together they recently celebrated 60 years of marriage and were blessed with two daughters: Jackie and Heidi.
Shortly after graduating high school, Gary enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served from 1966 to 1969, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. During his military service, he was stationed in Sumter, SC; Okinawa, Japan; and Omaha, NE. As a flight engineer, he flew missions into Vietnam and throughout Asia. He was proud of his military service and was a member of VFW Post 1403 in Benson. Following his honorable discharge, Gary pursued higher education at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND and later at St. Cloud State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
Athletics were a lifelong passion for Gary. As a standout football player and wrestler in both high school and college, he earned numerous honors throughout his athletic career. While attending NDSCS, he set three defensive football records, was named a Second Team All-American defensive player, won a North Dakota Junior College wrestling championship, and competed at the Junior College National Wrestling Tournament. Gary's accomplishments in athletics continued to be recognized throughout his life. He was inducted into the NDSCS Athletic Hall of Fame twice: first as an individual in 1985 and again in 2001 as a member of the 1971 football team. He later dedicated many years to coaching, serving on football staffs at St. Cloud State University and NDSCS before returning to Benson, where he coached football from 1980-1995 and wrestling from 1979-1996, impacting countless student-athletes along the way.
After returning to Benson, Gary became involved in his community. He owned and operated Williams Tree Service for 10 years. In 1988, he established the Benson High School Area Learning Center and served as its director until retiring from the Benson Public School District in 2013. He also served for 13 years on the Benson Public School Board of Directors. Gary was a faithful member of West Zion Lutheran Church, where he served in numerous leadership roles, including president. Most recently, he served as the Pope County Langhei Township Clerk.
Gary enjoyed fishing in his younger years, was an avid hunter, and spent many hours working on small engines in his shop, which was often a gathering place for friends. Gary will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his commitment to education, his love of sports, his service to his country, and his unwavering devotion to his community.
He is survived by his wife, Connie, of Clontarf; daughters: Jackie of Harrisville, PA, and Heidi and husband, Jon, Thoma of Litchfield; grandchildren: Megan, Justin, and Abbigail Thoma; a sister, Norma Bjerstedt; sisters-in-law: Dorothy Williams, Susan Birhanzel, and Beverly Kruize and her husband Lyle; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Raymond and Helen Williams; brothers: Ronald, Dale, and Neil Williams; and his parents-in-law, Oliver and Phyllis Harstad and nephews: Eric Bjerstedt and Kurt Kruize.
