Gregory "Greg" Lawrence Frey, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2025, at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center in Sturgis, South Dakota, at the age of 78. Born on May 15, 1947, in Island Pond, Vermont, to Wilbur Theodore Frey and Geraldine Elizabeth (Welch) Frey, Greg lived a life defined by service, kindness, and unwavering love for his family and community.
After graduating from Brighton High School in Island Pond, Greg trained at Navy Corpsman School in Great Lakes, Illinois. He served honorably as a Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam War, with the Marines, where his fellow servicemen fondly called him "Doc." His life of caregiving continued after his military service, when he became a nurse and dedicated his career to helping others in California and South Dakota, serving roles from the ICU to employee health nurse at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Even after his retirement, Greg continued to serve his community by delivering meals for Compass Point in Sturgis.
Greg's greatest joys came from the relationships he built throughout his life. He married Lana Dragoo in 1985, and together they raised their children, Erin and Jordan. In 2012, he married Penny Harvey Green, with whom he shared many happy years in Sturgis until her passing in 2021.
Outside of his work, Greg found peace and joy in the outdoors. He loved fishing, hunting, woodworking, reloading, shooting, and riding through the Black Hills in his side-by-side - sometimes with friends, sometimes on his own.
Greg will be remembered most for his gentle spirit, his warm smile, and the way he made everyone feel like a friend. He was a man who always had time to talk, to listen, and to share kindness with those around him. He was well-known for whistling a tune as he walked down the hospital hallways, a sound that brought joy and comfort to coworkers and patients alike.
He is survived by his brothers, Stanley (Linda) Frey and Stuart (Linda) Frey; his daughter, Erin (Frey) Fahrner and her husband, Adam, and their children, Bella, Aubrey, and Emilia; his son, Jordan Frey; stepdaughter, Tammy Green, and her son, Gage. Greg was preceded in death by his wife, Penny; his parents, Wilbur and Geraldine; and his brother, Mark Walter Frey.
