Gary Grinstead 80 year old of Osakis, passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Alomere Hospital in Alexandria. 

A Celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Osakis Lutheran Church Fellowship hall. The visitation will start at 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM, with a brief time of remembrance at 2:00 PM.

Gary Raymond Grinstead was born on May 2, 1945, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, to Raymond and Lois (Reynolds) Grinstead. From an early age, Gary learned the value of hard work growing up on a small farm and just as importantly, the value of laughter. While still in grade school, Gary moved with his family to Alexandria, Minnesota, where he graduated from high school in 1962. On November 8, 1962, he enlisted in the Army National Guard. Gary later worked at Ford Motor Company, where his lifelong appreciation for Ford vehicles took root, proudly purchasing his first Ford, a 1965 Mustang. He also spent time working in road construction before finding his true calling.

In 1969, Gary attended Wadena Technical College for Construction Electrician training and became a union electrician, wiring for various electrical companies. That same year, Gary married Betty, the young woman who caught his eye at a dance at Geneva Lodge. In 1971, Gary and Betty purchased a farm north of Osakis, Minnesota, where he devoted himself to full-time farming. Together they were blessed with two children, Mark and Michelle. As a family they raised dairy cows, swine, and beef cattle. Gary was a progressive farmer, among the first in the area to offer custom hay and cornstalk round baling, develop a large cemented feedlot, and install a liquid manure pit system and designed a very impressive cattle head chute and tub sorting system, which was the envy of area veterinarians and fellow cattlemen. He was especially skilled at fencing and believed there was always a better way to get the job done and was constantly updating, remodeling, and repairing the farm buildings, machinery and fences. He also had a passion for all things John Deere. Gary was a legendary jokester and storyteller. He drank countless cups of coffee at various coffee shops with “the guys” at the Table of Knowledge, where stories were shared, laughter was constant, advice was given and the world was routinely put to rights. One thing you never said around Gary was the “B” word, bored. If there was downtime, Gary always had a project ready, and the kids were usually pulled in to help. What felt like chores at the time became some of the most meaningful memories and lessons of their lives.

Gary loved cutting wood, building his own hay racks, raking and hauling hay, and staying busy with his hands. He enjoyed playing cards, shaking dice, and keeping up on all the neighborhood happenings. He took great pride in teaching his grandchildren how to run the skid loader and passing along the farm knowledge he hoped they would carry forward. When he was not busy, you could find Gary in the recliner watching an old western movie or trying to cheer the Vikings to a victory. His humor, stories, steady guidance, are some of the many memories that his family will cherish for a lifetime. 

Gary passed away peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the age of 80.  He leaves behind his wife, Betty;  children, Mark (Emily) Grinstead, Michelle (Jay) Stewart; grandchildren, Carley (Dakota) Larson, Bailey Stewart, Mason (Amery) Stewart, Tydan Stewart, Riplee Saurer and Finnley Grinstead; great-grandchildren, Baker and Bowen Larson; sister, Ardella (Robert) Schluender; sister-in-law, Elaine Grinstead; many nieces, nephews, friends; and beloved dog, Maggie. He was reunited in heaven by his parents, Raymond and Lois Grinstead; and brother, Roger Grinstead.