Gary Acevedo

Gary Lee Acevedo, 77, passed away on March 6, 2026, at 3:53 p.m. Mountain Time in Missoula, Montana, surrounded by family after a nine-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Gary was born March 30, 1948, in St. Ignatius, Montana, at Holy Family Hospital, with Dr. C.P. Brooks attending. He was the son of Jose Leonel (Leon) Acevedo and Marie (June) Francis Sorrell Acevedo. His paternal grandparents were Francisco Acevedo and Maria Ceja, and his maternal grandparents were Frank Sorrell and Elizabeth Mitchell.

Gary spent his early childhood in St. Ignatius before his family moved to Camas Prairie, Montana, where his father worked at a sawmill at the foot of the mountains. The family later settled in Plains, Montana, where Gary attended Plains Elementary School, Plains Junior High School, and Plains High School, graduating in 1966.

Shortly after graduation, Gary joined the United States Air Force in June 1966 and reported for training that September. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and graduated from the Air Force Medical Service School in April 1967. Airman Acevedo served as a medic and was stationed at RAF Wethersfield in Essex, England until September 1970, when he received his honorable discharge.

During his time in England, Gary met Violet Kellam. They married in 1970 and later returned to Montana together. From that marriage he had three children: Benjamin Douglas Acevedo, Jessica Renee Acevedo, and Rebekah Ingrid Acevedo.

After returning to Montana, Gary worked at Diehl’s Lumber Company on the green chain and later operating a forklift in the lumber yard on the night shift. In January 1972 he enrolled at the University of Montana, studying psychology until the spring of 1976.

In 1978 Gary married Laurie DeAnn Ward, with whom he shared the rest of his life. Together they raised Geoffrey Lynn Acevedo, Kris Acevedo-Clark, Christina Marie Acevedo, Alexis Nicole (Acevedo) Hawkaluk, and Curtis Michael Acevedo.

Gary later worked as a direct sales representative for IBM Corporation, serving a territory based in Havre, Montana.

He then returned to western Montana and began work in Ronan with the Flathead Reservation Area Comprehensive Alcohol Program (FRACAP), where he developed a six-week treatment curriculum and several diagnostic tools that continued to be used after he left the program.

Gary was later hired by the Salish and Kootenai Tribal Court as its first juvenile court judge. As an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, he dedicated much of his career to serving his community. After extensive training he served as Associate Judge, Court Administrator, and Acting Chief Judge, presiding over criminal and civil matters for more than two decades.

Following 22 years with the Tribal Court, Gary continued his public service with the Salish Kootenai Division of Human Resource Development, where he worked for another 12 years. More than 400 colleagues, friends, and community members attended his retirement celebration.

Gary was a devoted supporter of the University of Montana Grizzly football team, holding season tickets for many years and rarely missing a home game with his wife Laurie. He was a writer with many stories and collections that remain unpublished and a gifted speaker who presented at numerous conferences throughout his career. Known for his charming demeanor, gift for gab, and sense of humor, Gary was a memorable presence to those who knew him.

He was also an avid skier and hiker who made many trips into the backcountry of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He had a fondness for Tootsie Rolls and once joked that one of his aspirations was to become the greatest stuntman.

Gary is survived by his wife, Laurie DeAnn (Ward) Acevedo; his children Benjamin Douglas Acevedo, Jessica Renee Acevedo, Rebekah Ingrid Acevedo, Geoffrey Lynn Acevedo, Kris Acevedo-Clark, Christina Marie Acevedo (Joel Evans), Alexis Nicole (Acevedo) Hawkaluk (Keith Hawkaluk), and Curtis Michael Acevedo (Laura Acevedo); and his grandchildren MacKenzie Acevedo, Mark Venegas, Pine-M Hurley-Acevedo, Vi Devlin Acevedo, Joshua Clark, Ella Clark, Christopher Caliman, River Rumpel, Eowyn Rumpel, Isla Hawkaluk, Ursula Acevedo Talon and pets, Pretzel, Scout and Koko.

Gary is also survived by his brothers Thomas Raul Acevedo and Curtis Frank Acevedo. He was preceded in death by his dad, mother, brother Richard Eugene Acevedo, his niece Antoinette Leona (Bubs) Acevedo.

Gary’s life was defined by service to his country, his community, and the many people whose lives he touched through his work in counseling, healthcare, and the justice system.

A wake will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius, Montana. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, March 16, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., also at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius. Gary will be laid to rest near his parents in St. Ignatius, Montana.

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