Gary Houghton

Gary G. Houghton, 74, Claire City, passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in his home.

Visitation will be Saturday, April 4, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. followed by the Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Claire City with Rev. Karie Geyer and Rev. Pat Schubert officiating. Music will be provided by Crystal Kemnitz and Janeen Kohl.

Burial will be in the Claire City Cemetery. Urn bearer will be grandson William Houghton.

Gary Gene Houghton was born August 24, 1951, to AE (Bud) and Elsie (Grimm) Houghton in Watertown, SD. He grew up and attended school in Willow Lake, SD, where he played baseball, basketball and football. Throughout those years, he mowed lawns, had a paper route, and enjoyed trapping muskrats. He also worked for area farmers. In the summer of ’68, Gary moved to Webster where he met Gail. After graduating from Webster High School, he attended SDSU for one year, then DSU in Madison, graduating in 1974 with degrees in Business Administration and Business Education.

On November 24, 1972, Gary married Gail Anderson in Webster. Their son Scott was born in 1975 and daughter Melissa was born in 1982. Gary worked as an insurance investigator then went to work for GTA in Milbank and Claire City. Then he put up grain bins and built a portable grain cleaner.

In 1983, he built a seed plant in Claire City. He then sold his seed plant to Harvest States and worked for Harvest States for several years. He then bought into Futech in Fargo/Moorhead which became Country Hedging. He finished his career with Country Hedging in Kindred. Gary retired in 2012. In 1975, Gary and Gail moved to Claire City. They lived in several places before settling into their current home in 1980.

Gary was a member of First Lutheran Church and belonged to the Claire City Fire Department. He enjoyed hunting, coin collecting, and his Corvette.

Survivors include his wife, Gail Houghton of Claire City; son, Scott (Ember) Houghton of Platteville, WI; daughter, Melissa Houghton of Kansas City, KS; grandchildren, William, Sophie (Zo), and Emile Houghton; sister, LaVonne Hagen of Webster; brother, Lee (Sandy) Houghton of Webster; and foster brothers, Pat, Larry and Terry Welch.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents.