Garry Bakken

Garry’s service will be livestreamed and viewable below at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2026:

Garry R. Bakken, of Fargo, ND, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2026 under the loving care of family, Eventide Staff, and HIA Hospice.

Garry was born in Rugby, ND on December 1, 1944 to Gunder and Esther Lucke Bakken. He attended country school near the farm at Knox, ND and attended Benson County Agricultural School at Maddock, ND, graduating in 1962. He furthered his education by enrolling in the auto mechanics program at NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND. It was during his 2nd year at NDSCS that Garry met Kathleen (Kay) Olson. They were married at Bethel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton, on June 6, 1965.

For 10 years Garry was employed at Russ Buick, Fargo, as the Opal Specialist, while weekends found him working at the Meyers Standard Station. During these same years, he and Kay did much of the work on a new home in Horace, ND, which included a dream garage for Garry to work on cars for others.
After 4 years living in Horace, Garry and his family, moved to the Bakken farm which included crops and cattle. Eventually Garry left farming, and for the next 28 years he worked as a driver for UPS. In 2001 Garry was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma which eventually required a stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Garry could fix most anything, created many useful things, and helped out many friends, neighbors, family and even strangers, with his
handyman skills and kindness. He enjoyed anything related to cars and was a big car racing fan. When Kay met him, he had a 1955 green and yellow Buick; his pride and joy for sure!

Garry is survived by his wife Kay; daughter Deanna Bakken, Fargo; son Brad (Paula) Bakken, Wahpeton; step-grandchildren, Neely Zach, Brian (Trisha) Nordick; great-grandchildren, Sicily Malme, Sawyer Malme, Rowan Zach, Slater Zach, Landen Nordick, London Nordick, and Liam Nordick; his sister, Mary Ann Koble; niece, Denise (Bob) Eckerdt; brother-in-law, Larry (Patty) Olson; sisters-in-law, Linda (Dana) Pazdernik, Barbara (Gerald) Mohs and Sandra (David) Steiner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Esther and Gunder Bakken and brothers-in-law, Anton Koble and James Olson.

In lieu of flowers please donate to HIA Hospice or Olivet Food Bank, where Garry spent many hours organizing and sharing to those in need.