Roll Call Tribute

Gary Lee Satterthwaite 

January 13, 1944 - September 23, 2024 

On September 23, 2024 at 3:30 a.m. Gary Lee Satterthwaite took his last breath on earth and his first breath in Heaven. He peacefully passed away in the Mountrail County Medical Center in Stanley, ND.

Gary was born in Chicago, IL on January 13, 1944 to Earl Satterthwaite and Barbara (Wing) Satterthwaite. The family moved back to North Dakota in 1950 where Earl was born and raised. They ran the family ranch that Gary’s Grandfather JB Satterthwaite homesteaded in 1906. Gary attended a one-room country school through eighth grade. He went to high school in New Town, ND where he graduated in 1962. Following high school, Gary attended Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota for one year, then transferred to NDSU to complete his university education. In 1973, Gary received his Master’s degree in Rural Sociology from Texas A&M University. 

Gary always knew he would serve the Lord as a missionary but didn’t know where until after he attended the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Norman, Oklahoma. It was there that he met Sue Panter – who became the love of his life. He became a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators/ Summer Institute of Linguistics that summer and later that year he and Sue received their assignment to go to Colombia, South America.

Gary and Sue were married June 3, 1967. They went to Colombia in December of that year. While in Colombia, Gary and Sue studied Spanish at the University of the Andes in Bogota and he was the manager of the farm for the WBT/SIL group. Their oldest daughter Renee was born in Bogota. After a year and a half, they were transferred to Peru where Gary worked with the Farm and cattle project and ran the chicken hatchery.

In 1971 Carol was born at Puerto Callao, Peru. In 1973 Gary and family went home to the States for a furlough. During that time Laurel was born in Stanley, ND and Gary attended Texas A&M. They returned to Peru in October of 1974 and Joanna was born at Yarinacocha. Gary managed the commissary at the center until the family decided to return to the States permanently in July 1976.

After returning home to the United States, Gary worked in various jobs. He was a farmer/rancher, County Extension Agent, and U.S. Postal Rural Route carrier. He also had several business ventures in computer programs and sales, and landscaping projects.

Gary is preceded in death by grandparents, JB and Isabelle Satterthwaite, and Harold and Jessie Wing; parents, Earl and Barbara Satterthwaite; and several aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; daughters Renee (James) Dufner, Glenburn, ND; Carol (Brent) Danks, New Town, ND; Laurel (Jamie) Hyatt, Minot, ND; Joanna (Josh) Schofield, Flint, MI; sister, Marianne (Doug) Bender, Scottsdale, AZ. Grandchildren Karissa and Katelyn Dufner, both of Minot, ND; Michael Dufner, Glenburn, ND; Matthew Dufner, Minot, ND; Gary and Molly Danks, both of New Town, ND; Brandon and Brett Hyatt, both of Fargo, ND; Devon Schofield, Flint, MI; Dominic Schofield, Leesburg, FL; great grandchildren, Kaysen Dufner, and Krue Dalby, both of Minot, ND; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.