Gary E. Altrichter

Gary Edward Altrichter, 75-year-old resident of Pillager, MN, passed away Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 near his home. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 17th, 2026, at 11:00AM at St James Catholic Church in Randall, MN. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00pm the preceding evening on Thursday, April 16th, also at St James Catholic Church. Caring for Gary and his family is the LeMieur Funeral Home of Little Falls. Gary was born on August 14, 1950, to the late Edward and Lorraine (Brynairski) Altrichter. He was united in marriage to Katherine Snyder on July 17, 1976. Gary and Kathy lived in several different locations in central Minnesota during their many happy years together, including Pillager, Cushing, Frazee, and Hewitt. In 1988, they adopted their son Andrew (then 2 years old) while also caring for their nephews Tommy and Gary. Throughout his life, Gary was a jack of all trades and a master of some, as he might put it. He operated heavy equipment for his father and later his brother for Altrichter Sand and Gravel. He also worked for many years at Anderson Brothers Construction, working his way up to superintendent. He had various other side jobs over the years, including bartending, stump grinding and logging, and long-haul trucking. Gary was instrumental in establishing the Scandia Valley Fire Department in 1984 and served on it both as a volunteer firefighter and fire chief. Through it all he collected knowledge, stories, and friends, making him the man to turn to if you needed a creative solution to almost any kind of problem and wanted to be entertained while you worked. He was someone you could call reliably at 5:30 in the morning to have a long chat over a cup of coffee. He loved to help people and did so up until his very last day. Gary was someone people knew they could always count on. Outside of work, Gary enjoyed hunting, fishing, going to the sale barn, and just spending as much time as he could with his beloved wife Kathy, his son Andrew, his dog Parker, and his friends. Gary was always laughing, telling jokes, and was a master storyteller. His willingness to help others, his varied skills, and his stories and jokes are legacies that will live on in all that he loved. Gary will be deeply missed by his son, Andrew (Shanna) Altrichter; siblings, Mike (Judy) Altrichter, Debbie (Loren) King, Patrick (Tami) Altrichter, Carol Altrichter, Geri Altrichter; nieces and nephews, Tom (Eric) Staul, Aaron (Ashley) Kuklok, Ryan (Keri) Kuklok), Heather Olsen, Johnathon and Aundreia Altrichter, and many friends. Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy; sister, Jackie, and parents, Ed and Lorraine.

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Gary E. Altrichter

August 14, 1950 - April 1, 2026