Gary Gardner, 83, died Sept. 3, 2024.
Mass of Christian burial was Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eden and was livestreamed. Interment was at St. Michaels Catholic Cemetery near Eden.
Visitation was Sept 6, 5-7 p.m., closing with a scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. at the church.
Gary Leo Gardner was born Nov. 6, 1940, to Leo and Stella (Valnes) Gardner at Webster. He attended Nutley Township country grade school and graduated from Roslyn High School in 1958. After his education, he worked as a farmhand helping his father and local farmers. In 1962, he moved to St. Paul, MN and worked at Montgomery Ward. That fall he returned to Eden.
He married Felicia “Faye” Hansen Oct. 20, 1962, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Lake City. They lived on the Phillip Keintz farm a few years before moving to the Gardner family farmstead. He did carpentry and farmwork. He worked at Brewster Lumber for 40 years, half of those years as manager. He raised cattle and ranched for many years including after his retirement in 2005, In 2011, they moved to Watertown where he worked part time at Peterson Motors.
He was a self-taught musician, playing several instruments by ear at music jamborees and nursing homes. He was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He enjoyed his horses, raising cattle, hunting, fishing and dancing. He enjoyed welding and creating wooden birdhouses, clocks and furniture. In January 2024, he moved to assisted living in Watertown and in March to Strand-Kjorsvig Living Center, Roslyn.
Survivors include his wife, Watertown; daughters, Kathy and Tim Zilverberg, Highmore; Kim Gardner, Tempe, AZ; Kristie and Marc Spies, Watertown; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; brother Roger and Eugenia Gardner, Aberdeen; sister, JoAnn and Donn Kirchgatter, Eagen, MN; sisters-in-law, Patti and Jim Nordquist, Starbuck, MN; Carol Hansen, Brooklyn Center, MN; Brenda and Mike Jones, Fargo, ND.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Kevin Gardner; brother, Donald Gardner; in-laws, Robert Hansen, Myron and Barbara Hansen.
Fiksdal Funeral Service, Webster was in charge of arrangements.