Garth C. West

Garth Clifton was born February 6, 1935, in Wilkin County, Minnesota, to Clifford and Jesse (Heifner) West. He farmed with his father until he joined the Army in 1953, serving as an air-defense artilleryman. His army service took him to Boston, Massachusetts, where he met Jesus through the servicemen’s ministry of Central Baptist Church in Quincy. The church also provided the opportunity for him to meet young Constance Sutton. The country boy married his city girl sweetheart on March 18, 1955. As so often happens even in the present war, the newlyweds endured a one-year separation as Garth was deployed to Thule, Greenland, not long after the wedding. The brief time before the deployment was put to good use as the couple was expecting their first child who was born while Garth was in Greenland. Following his deployment to Thule, Garth was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he settled with his new bride and new son. There he served as an artilleryman and as interpreter between his wife and the native Georgians as her native Boston accent rendered her incomprehensible to the locals. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Garth received a job offer to work with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), so the West family moved to Greenwich, New Jersey, as Garth began his career of civilian Federal Service that would span 41 years. Following the birth of two additional sons in New Jersey, Garth received a transfer to the Mankato, Minnesota, office of the SCS and the couple moved back to Garth’s native state in 1967, settling in Garden City. Garth worked for the SCS until his retirement in 1998. Garth and Conne’s life revolved around their church family at Grace Baptist Church of Mankato, Minnesota. Garth served as a Deacon, Financial Secretary, Church Treasurer, and taught Sunday school for many years. Garth was known for his devotion to his Lord Jesus, his family, his friends, and his church, for his sense of humor, his love for meeting people, his woodworking skills offered to all in need of them, and his indomitable work ethic.

Garth is survived by his three sons, Doctor Garth S. West (married to Jane Tebussek) of Rochester, MN, Reverend Doctor Bradley A. West (married to Susan Hooge) of Bend, OR, Reverend Timothy M. West (married to Elizabeth Ryan) of Bloomfield, CT; five grandchildren, Alexander West (Leanna) of Redmond, OR, Allison Gahlon (Brian) of Rochester, MN, Natalie Ellender (Ramie) of California, MD, Emily West of Rochester, MN, and Lauren Abbott (Joshua) of Boise, ID; six great-grandsons (with one more on the way), one great-granddaughter; four siblings, Rosemary Janke (Myron) of Wheaton, MN, Jean Rubish (Merle) Wahpeton, ND, Patricia Aguilar (Robert) of Minneapolis, MN, Michael West (Sue) of Battle Lake, MN; eight nephews and six nieces. Garth was preceded in death by his wife, Conne, on April 8, 2013; parents; sister, Judy Bolin; and one nephew.

Garth Clifton West, age 81, of Garden City, departed this life to live forever with his Savior Jesus on September 2, 2016, at Madonna Towers, Rochester, MN. His new adventure has begun . . .

A Celebration of Garth’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 10, 2016, at Grace Baptist Church, Mankato. Interment will be at 9:00 a.m., Saturday at Garden City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Grace Baptist Church Missions to assist in building a new church in Manila, Philippines. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.