Gary Hobert

Gary Hobert, 72, of Harrold, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2026, near Cresbard, South Dakota, as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.  His wife, Debra Kay Hobert, passed away from injuries sustained in the same accident on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Gary & Deb Hobert Prayer Service Livestream
7:00 p.m., Friday, October 16, 2026

Gary & Deb Hobert Funeral Service Livestream
10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 17, 2026

Deb and Gary’s funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Harrold School Gym, with Pastors David Otten and Tom Penrod officiating. Burial will follow at Medicine Hill Cemetery in Harrold. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the Harrold School Gym.

Gary Neil Hobert, son of Orville and Rita (Mootz) Hobert, was born on September 24, 1954, in Pierre, South Dakota. Gary attended school in Harrold and worked on the family farm “from the time he was old enough to see over the steering wheel on Grandpa’s old ‘B’ John Deere.” Gary loved farming. It was his life’s work, and he took pride in what he was able to build with his dad and his brother David. If he wasn’t on the tractor, you would have probably found young Gary with a fishing pole or a lever action .22. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent his free time hunting, fishing, and trapping with his buddies.

On February 21, 1976, Gary married Debra Heintz at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harrold. Their twin sons, Michael and Scott, were born on August 2, 1982. Gary never missed an opportunity to brag about his boys and enjoyed sharing his passion for hunting, fishing, and farming with them. Shortly after the boys were born, Gary and Deb purchased the house just south of the Methodist Church in Harrold. They spent decades renovating and adding to their home and lived there the rest of their lives. It was the setting for countless birthdays, holidays, and cherished family memories.

The highlight of Gary’s year was deer season. He would spend weeks scouting the draws west of the farm and always had an eye out for the “big one” during fall harvest. Opening day would bring quality time in the blinds with his sons and grandsons and his lifelong friend Pat Buchanan. Stories were told, and memories were made. It was always his way of catching up with everyone, and whether all the tags were filled, or not a single shot was fired, it was always a successful hunt.

Gary was devoted to the town of Harrold and the people in it. He served on the Harrold Town Board as Vice President and later as Mayor. He was also a trustee at Immanuel Lutheran Church and President of the board for Medicine Hill Cemetery. What his friends and neighbors will remember most is his big heart and the infectious belly laugh that brought smiles to the faces of everyone who knew him. Gary would till gardens, push snow, mow lawns, and just about anything else that needed to be done around town. He always found ways to keep busy.

Gary is survived by his sons: Michael (April) Hobert of Hoven, and Scott (Adie) Hobert of Jamestown, North Dakota; his brother, David (Barb) Hobert of Harrold; sisters: Jennifer Hegg of Rapid City, Carla Hurn of Verona, Missouri, and Roxanne (Scott) Cloud of Wentworth, Missouri; sister-in-law, Patti Heintz of Pierre; four nephews and eleven nieces. Gary will be particularly missed by his precious grandchildren: Xavier Hobert of Watertown, Easton and Beckett Hobert of Hoven, Henry Hobert of Jamestown, and Madelyn Reinarts of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Woodrow “Red” and Grace Heintz; and brothers-in-law: Gary Heintz, Dale Hegg and Steve Hurn.

On October 5, 2026, Gary was joined in heaven by Deb, his wife of fifty years.

Memorials for Gary and Debra may be directed to the Anne Carlsen Student Need Account at the Anne Carlsen Center in Jamestown, North Dakota, and/or the Gary and Deb Hobert Memorial Fund at Plains Commerce Bank in Hoven, South Dakota.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Gary and Deb’s arrangements.