Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272059
Title: Gerald N. "Gary" Rooks
Date: 3/7/1932-1/7/2026
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 3/7/1932
Summary: Gerald N. “Gary” Rooks peacefully passed away on January 7, 2026. Memorial services were held January 13, 2026, at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Williston, ND. Burial was at Hillside Memory Gardens Cemetery in Williston. Gary was born in Minot, ND, on March 7, 1932, to Bruce and Ione Rooks. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Gerald lived on the family farm and attended a rural school and graduated from Minot Model High with the class of 1950. Gary continued his education at Minot State Teachers College and University of North Dakota with a master's degree in business and school administration. He taught for 42 years, 10 years in high school and 32 years teaching and in administration at University of North Dakota Williston. Gary married Marilyn Miller on June 5, 1955, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot, ND. He was an active farmer in Williams and Ward County, flying his plane back and forth for many years. He enjoyed winters in Arizona, golfing, hiking, hunting with friends, and was a dedicated Teton fan. He enjoyed many adventures and was curious his whole life. Gary is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marilyn J. Rooks; daughter, Kimberlee Wallingford and son-in-law, Michael Wallingford; grandchildren, Nikki and Garet Rooks. He was preceded in death by his parents; and son, Craig Rooks.
Red ID: FND_I_79554 Image ID: 554916 Image Notes: FND001 272059

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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