Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272301
Title: Kenneth L. Gathman
Date: 5/23/1946-9/10/2026
Inscription/Marks: 5/23/1946
Summary: Kenneth Leroy Gathman, known to many as Ken, Kenny, or Coach, passed away peacefully on the night of September 10, 2026, with his family by his side. Memorial services were held October 2, 2026, at Banks Lutheran Church in Watford City, ND, with Minister Sherri Heser officiating.He was laid to rest at the Gathman Family Farm in Watford City. Representatives of the United States Marine Corps Funeral Honors Team and the Carl E. Rogen Post 29 of Watford City, presented military honors.h. Ken was born May 23, 1946, to Theodore “Ted” and Bernice (Zimmerman) Gathman in Berthold, ND. The middle child of 11 children, he grew up playing baseball and sharing his father’s love for the game. He also became an avid hunter and fisherman, helping put food on the family’s table. After high school, Ken served in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Okinawa during the Vietnam War. When he returned home, he worked for the railroad. During those years, he developed a love for rodeo, and more importantly, fell in love with Ardyce Wold. Ken later began working for the telephone company. Always an adventurer, he moved his family west to a small community outside Portland, OR, where they lived until the children finished school. Ken and Ardyce then followed his work from Oregon to Colorado and back to Oregon before eventually retiring in North Dakota. They spent time in Carpio before settling on the family property where Ardyce grew up, north of Watford City. Ken believed strongly in giving his time to others. He served as a volunteer firefighter in Corbett, OR, and was always willing to help with community events. One of his greatest passions was Junior Olympic rifle shooting. Coaching took him across the country, where he helped develop numerous local and national champions, collegiate athletes, and All-Americans. To generations of young shooters, he was simply “Coach.” His influence reached far beyond the firing line, and the lessons, encouragement, and discipline he shared will continue through the many lives he touched. Later in life, Ken returned to the hobbies he had loved since childhood—fishing and hunting with his brothers, nephews, and nieces. The Berthold Sportsmen’s Club also held a special place in his heart. Ken is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ardyce Gathman; his son, Trevor (Dixi) Gathman; granddaughters, Miah and Anna Gathman; his sisters, Jean (Francis) Hennessy, Judy (Bob) Schwehr, and Mary Kurtz; sister-in-law Laurie Gathman; his brothers, Jim (Teresa) Gathman and Steve (Kim) Gathman; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and the many junior shooters whose lives he influenced throughout his years of coaching. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nicole “Nikki” Gathman; his parents, Theodore (Ted) and Bernice Gathman; his brothers, Frank (Virginia) Gathman, Ted Gathman, George (Pat) Gathman, and Gary Gathman; and his sister, Kathy (Vergil) Mosser.
Red ID: FND_I_79793

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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