Gerard "Gary" Swartz

Gerard E. Gary Swartz, 64, died Monday, May 11, 2015 of natural causes at his home in Gibson Flats south of Great Falls.The memorial service will be on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. A memorial will also be held in Las Vegas for his many friends there. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Gary was born March 6, 1951 in Great Falls. Gary was married to Robin Knox and they were later divorced. He then married Vicki (Pieper), mother of Stacy and Jolene and they later divorced. He later met and married his soulmate and best friend, June Russell.Gary grew up on the family farm near Stockett. He attended Selstrom School and went on to graduate from Centerville High School. He went to work at the Anaconda Smelter Co. in Great Falls after high school. He worked in construction as a heavy equipment operator for Volk Construction, Sletten Construction, Bulldog, and KW Pipeline. He retired from KW in Las Vegas, Nevada after living and working there for 23 years. After retirement he worked for a time for Crane's West, operating and repairing large cranes up to 100 tons in Las Vegas. His friends and coworkers said that if it had a seat, Gary could operate it and he earned the trust of all he worked with.Gary enjoyed hunting and fishing, working on cars and fixing motors. He enjoyed most recently visiting with and feeding the birds he befriended with Max, his dog friend in his quiet yard. Gary worked hard all of his life and was a gentle soul.Gary returned to Montana after his wife June's death in April 2014.He is survived by his two daughters Stacy (Tyson) Schwartz and their children, Hailey and Cody, Jolene (Nick) Raatz and their children, Elly and Sydney; stepson Jason Russell; his son Nathan, Nathan's daughter; Gary's great grandaughter, Emma; seven siblings, Maxine (Al) Jarvi, Catherine Avery, Rose (Mike) Mattson, Jim (Roxanne) Swartz, Rita (Jim) Alderman, Janet (Tim) Cameron and Debbie (Creyton) Langendorff; and 14 nieces and nephewsGary was preceded in death by his wife, June Russell; parents Charles and Marjorie (Tintinger) Swartz; brothers, Michael Mick and Richard Swartz; sister, Louise Swartz; stepdaughter Collette Russell; and nephew Richard Bowers.Memorials may be made to the donors choice.