Gary Luke Gardner, 65, of Cashmere, Wash., died Monday, July 2, 2012.
He was born Nov. 19, 1946, in City Hospital, New Rockford, the son of Kenneth C. and Kathryn Margaret Luke Gardner. He was a member of the New Rockford Methodist Church and attended New Rockford Central School, graduating on May 26, 1965. While in high school, he worked at Joe's Super Fair.
He attended Minot State College from 1965 to 1967, majoring in history. In 1967-1968 he lived in the Seattle area and then enlisted in the Army, where he served from June 1968 to May 1971. He was stationed in West Germany and South Vietnam.
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After his discharge he went back to Minot State College and graduated in May 1976 with a bachelor of science degree in medical technology. From 1975 to 1976 he was a student medical technologist at the Trinity Medical Center School of Medical Technology, Minot, and was granted a diploma in July 1976.
From August to November 1976, he was employed as a medical technologist at Trinity Hospital, Minot. In November 1976 he moved to Glasgow, Mont., and was a medical technologist at the F.M. Deaconess Hospital until July 1979.
On July 30, 1979, he began work as a medical technologist at Central Washington Hospital, Wenatchee, Wash., and continued there until his retirement on March 14, 2007.
An outdoorsman, he was active in running, biking, skiing, kayaking and rafting and was an amateur photographer. In Washington he had two families: his Lab Family and his River Family.
Survivors include: sisters, Lois Alexander, Porterville, Calif., Kay (Allen) Mack, of Drake, and Mary (Alan) Nygaard, Mason City, Iowa; and brothers, George (Della) Zeitler, Lake Metigoshe, near Bottineau; and Kenneth (Carol) Gardner Jr., Drayton.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents and a grandnephew, Michael Mack.
His life can be summed up in a statement by a doctor at Central Washington Hospital when Gary discovered an anti-c in a blood specimen and quickly reported it to the doctor who later wrote that "because of Gary's alertness and concern, a baby was saved from dying due to hemolytic disease of the newborn."
Gary will be remembered for his sense of humor, compassion and kindness. He was loved deeply by his family and friends.
Funeral: Saturday, July 28, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., at First Congregational Church, New Rockford.
Interment: Prairie Home Cemetery, New Rockford
Online condolences may be sent at (www.EvansFuneralHomeND.com).
(Evans Funeral Home, New Rockford)