Kenneth "Butch" Gartzke

Kenneth L. Gartzke of Fargo passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at HIA Hospice Heather’s House less than a month shy of his 80th birthday.

Ken, known to family as “Butch”, was born June 30, 1946, in Watertown, South Dakota, to Vincent and Marie Gartzke. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1964. After high school, Ken worked at several newspaper and print shops around South Dakota.

While living in Rapid City, he enjoyed “spelunking” or cave exploring and assisted in mapping Jewel Cave. He moved to Fargo in 1981 and continued working in the printing industry, retiring in 2010 from the ND Division of Independent Study.

Ken met Lori Eckhoff while they were both working for different companies in the historic Ford building in downtown Fargo and they were married on May 16, 1992.

Ken was a very social person and loved getting together with friends on the golf course or on the bowling lanes. He also loved genealogy and did extensive work on all lines of his family tree.

His parents, four sisters (Dorothy Antijunti, Shirley Olson, Lorraine Parish and Lois Pickrel) and his son Vincent, precede Ken in death. He is survived by his wife Lori, daughter Marcy, grandson Zackary and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

As per Ken’s wishes, no services are planned. Burial will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown, South Dakota at a later date.

Special thanks to the teams at Essentia Health and HIA Hospice for their wonderful and compassionate care.