Gary Allen Sorensen

Our father, Col. Gary Allen Sorensen, passed Tuesday, June 3, 2025, ten days before his 90th birthday. His passing was Covid related. Gary was born in a wood home with a dirt floor on June 13, 1935, in Bonner. He was of Danish and German decent. He later moved to Brooks street in Missoula. He was born to Lois and Carl Sorensen. Gary attended Missoula County HS. Gary was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He is a graduate from the U of M with a BA in journalism and a Master of Science in Public Relations from American University Gary was in the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He married Juliann Louise Ugrin, from Butte. He was in the ROTC at the University. When he graduated, he enlisted as a commissioned officer. He entered the US Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss Texas, Fort Andrews Maryland, Fort Gordon Georgia, Colorado State College Pueblo, Bremerhaven Army Airfield, Military Command Center, Sembach Kaserne Kaiserslautern, Germany, Virginia, Maryland and served in the Vietnam conflict 1971-1972. Julie passed in 2003. After her death, Gary married Hazel Lois Brehm and lived happily together to his death. He was active in many philanthropic associations including Toastmasters International, Boy Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity, Western Montana Military Officers Assoc., Sons of Norway and the committee to construct the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Missoula. Gary and his wife Hazel are members of the congregation at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Missoula. Gary was preceded in death by his grandson Allen John Craig and his daughter Tracy Lynn Craig. He is succeeded in death by his children Craig Alan Sorensen (Michelle) Los Angeles and Tina Louise McElroy (Steve McFadden) Lewistown, MT his grandchildren Austen Taylor Sorensen, Peyton Alexander McElroy Lexis Taylor Sorensen, Jackson Reed McElroy, Kalei Taylor Sorenen and Kennedi Taylor Sorensen. He has four great grandchildren Riley Emerson Sorensen, Hunter Reed Sorensen, Saylor James Sorensen and Hudson Hayes Wood, all of whom live in the Los Angeles area. Gary will be laid to rest at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery next to his first wife, Julie.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Missoula. A burial with Military Honors will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery.