Anton “Tony” Gregory, age 94, passed away on Thursday morning, March 27, 2025 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD.

Service of Remembrance will be Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. MT at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon.  Vicar Jen Seffrood and Pastor Spencer Allen will officiate.  Following a time of fellowship and lunch at the church, burial will be at Rosebud Cemetery, Shadehill, SD.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 4, 2025 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD.

Tony was born March 4, 1931 to Gregor and Catherine (Krivoruchka) Gregory at their family home in rural Billings County, ND. Tony was three months old when his mother passed away. He was then cared for by his sisters until about the age of twelve.

When he left the care of his sisters, Tony went to work for the AC Ranch near Killdeer, ND. While working for the Ranch, he also helped move houses in the Dickinson/Killdeer area. He continued to work there until he met the love of his life, Helen Hinderer, who he met through a friend. The couple were married on June 8th, 1952 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elgin, ND.

The couple made their first home in Halliday, ND with his sister, Ann, and brother-in-law, Erling. Tony then attended an auctioneering school in Renville, MN. Once he completed his schooling, Tony worked for Clarence & James Nelson for about a year before he and Helen relocated to the Henry Hoffman ranch north of Morristown, SD where he worked. Helen taught school at the rural Parks School. Tony became a 4-H leader for the Green Meadow 4-H Club. He continued to lead the club for about 8 years. He also continued to auctioneer farm sales on occasion.

While living at the Hoffman ranch, Tony raised coon dogs and he and the neighbors would go racoon hunting. In the wintertime, Tony and Helen would ride horse to the neighbors to play cards. After a few years, they bought a little trailer and moved north of Watauga, SD where Helen taught at the Cedar School and Tony helped work for Helen’s father for a few years.

They then moved south of White Butte, SD to the George & Agnes Smebakken ranch where Tony recalled he made a “long-term contract with George on just a handshake.” During this time, he continued to raise coon dogs and worked at the Bob Schnell Livestock Sales in Lemmon, SD and auctioned at the Marshall Keen Livestock Sales in Hettinger, ND. Tony continued to do house and building moving. He relocated many buildings from the old town of Seim before the Shadehill Dam was flooded. They made many life-long friends during this stage of their lives.

They then moved south of Morristown, SD to the Todd Hoffman ranch where he raised registered Hereford cattle. During this time, he also showed registered Hereford heifers and bulls at the ND State Fair in Minot, ND. He farmed during this time period as well. He continued to run cattle through 1984.

From the Todd Hoffman ranch, Tony and Helen moved north of Watauga, SD to the Henry Munderloh ranch. They began raising Saler cattle in addition to registered Herefords. In 1972, Tony and Tom Lyman bought Lemmon Livestock Sale Barn and changed the name to West River Livestock. Tony was the general manager and Helen was the office manager. During their time on the Smebakken farmstead, Tony began raising registered quarter horses. To be closer to the sale barn, they bought a mobile home to relocate on the George Smebakken farm south of Lemmon, SD where they continued to reside until Helen entered the Nursing Home in June of 2024 and Tony entered the Nursing Home in March of 2025 prior to his death. Tony continued to raise quarter horses until he gifted his last quarter horse mare to Rory Seim in 2021.

Tony helped Woody Penor coordinate three Coal Springs Wagon Train treks starting in 2010 to 2012 and attended additional rides himself through 2014. These train treks became a passion of both Tony and Helen. Throughout their entire marriage, cattle, horses, coon dogs, and blue heeler dogs were also a part of their lives. Towards the end of his life, Tony grew to have a new-found love for an orange Tabby cat Helen raised named “Fluffy”.

Tony and Noble Peterson also had the honor of carrying the Boss Cowman flag for 22 years. Tony and Helen were Boss Cowman Honorees in 2017 celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary over the celebration. Tony held many positions throughout his years in the community including Director of the Lincoln Township Board.

Tony had many passions in his life, but in his later years playing Rummy and Pinochle at the Legion were high on his to-do list. He also looked forward to his breakfast at the Alaska Café with his friends. Once Helen moved into the nursing home in 2024, Tony was very dedicated to visiting her everyday when it was possible.

Tony is survived by his wife, Helen; Helen’s sister’s, Arlene Tousley and Brenda (John) Merriman; Helen’s brothers, Larry Hinderer and Ernie (Hilda) Hinderer; many nephews and nieces, and great nephews and nieces.

Tony is preceded in death by his parents, Gregor and Catherine Gregory; his sisters and spouses, Mary, Jenny, Ann, Lena, Betty, and Olga; his brothers and spouses, John, and Nick; parent-in-law, Paul and Mary Hinderer; brothers-in-law, Clark Tousley and Morris Baye; sisters-in-law, Viola Baye and Florence Hinderer.

Memorials can be made in Tony’s memory to the Rosebud Church, the Coal Springs Threshing Bee, and Five Counties Nursing Home.