Gary was born on December 13, 1933, in Hannaford, ND, to Oscar and Mildred (Pierson) Skorheim. He lived in Hannaford until the 9th grade when his family relocated to Wahpeton, North Dakota.

Gary graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1951. He furthered his education at North Dakota State College of Science for 2 years before enlisting in the US Navy. He trained as a pilot in Pensacola, FL and San Diego, CA. He did his aircraft carrier landing check-out on the CV Enterprise, the same ship that his uncle served on in WWII. He served his active duty in the Philippines with seaplane squadron V.P. 46. After his navy career while living in Minneapolis he was employed as a motor coach driver.

Gary had a life-long love of music and was a gifted vocalist. He was familiar with the pianobar scene in Minneapolis. In the mid eighties Gary left Minneapolis to settle in the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area. He bore witness to the born-again Christian life. This was clearly the principal focus of his life in his later years.

Gary's poetry carries in it the flavor of simplicity. They are tokens of a simple, humble, yes even a lonely life. He oftens hearkens back to memories of his youth and dreams and yearnings unfulfilled due to what he perceived as his own personal limiting obstacles.

Gary Skorheim was another among of thousands who died during the covid pandemic. He passed from this world on August 23, 2021.

This brief biography was written by his friend and collaborater, Charles Pinkney who knew Gary during his Minneapolis days and later encouraged him in his writing and gathering of his poems to share with the world.