Gary Allan LaGue Sr.

Gary Allan LaGue Sr., age 73, of Waubun, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Visitation will be Monday, September 21st, 2026 at 3:00pm with funeral service following at 4:00pm at Elbow Lake Lutheran Church in Waubun, located just across the street from Gary's home.

Gary Allan LaGue Sr. was born on March 10, 1953, in White Earth, Minnesota, the son of Alvin and Freida (Keezer) LaGue. A member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Gary carried a deep connection to his family, community, and the people who surrounded him throughout his life.

Gary attended Minnesota State Vocational Technical College, where he earned a degree in mechanics. A man of many talents, he was also an excellent cook and something of a culinary guru to those who knew him best. Over the years, Gary served his community as a member of the Elbow Lake Volunteer Fire Department and was also well known for his work as a self-employed leech harvester.

More than anything, Gary wanted to be remembered for laughing, having fun, and giving the people around him a hard time. His sense of humor was unmistakable, and those closest to him often received the worst of it. As his family puts it, the better the friend, the more Gary would "terrorize" you. His teasing was his way of showing affection, and laughter seemed to follow wherever he went.

Music was another constant in Gary's life. He especially enjoyed Tupac, Smokey Robinson, and DMX, and he loved cruising around with friends and family with the music turned up loud enough for the surrounding communities to enjoy right along with him. Gary also loved loud motorcycles, fast cars, fishing, playing cribbage and Yahtzee, and simply spending time with the people he cared about. One memory he was especially proud of was traveling with his son Shane and seeing the ocean.

In his later years, Gary found himself increasingly drawn to the Christian faith. While he did not attend church on a regular basis, his faith became a more meaningful part of his life, and he held a special connection to Elbow Lake Lutheran Church, located just across the street from his home.

Above all else, Gary loved his family and friends. His door was always open, and he had a way of making people feel welcomed, cared for, and loved. Those who knew him understood just how much he had already given through his friendship, generosity, humor, and presence in their lives. Wherever Gary was, there was almost certainly laughter involved.

And, in keeping with the humor Gary himself would have appreciated, his family says he was a real "Willie Nelson" - exactly what that means is best left to the imagination of the reader.

Those left to honor Gary's memory include his children, Shane LaGgue Sr. of Detroit Lakes, Beth LaGue of Elbow Lake Village, and Gary LaGue Jr. of Detroit Lakes; his grandchildren, Sean, Faith, Shane Jr., Justys, Jarred, Shaynna, Tyler, Matraccia, Tevohn, Lashay, Tabatha, Ambrose, Orion, Holly, and Destiny; and an abundance of great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Judy Conklin and Carol LaGue; nephews, Donny LaGue, Anthony LaGue Jr.; nieces, Sarah Spencer, Ann LaGue; as well as many friends, extended family members, and others whose lives were made a little brighter by knowing Gary.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Freida LaGue; his brothers, Dale LaGue and Anthony "Tony" LaGue Sr.; and his granddaughter, Sharon.

Gary will be remembered for his laughter, his music, his generosity, his faith, and the unmistakable way he made people feel at home in his presence. In the spirit of the way Gary lived his life, his family asks that those who knew and loved him "remember the good memories and not sorrow."