Clifford C. Gartner was born July 4, 1919 at Platte, South Dakota, the son of Wallace and Ida Collene (King) Gartner.

As a child he moved with his parents to Haakon County, South Dakota. He grew up and received his education in the Haakon County schools.

In 1941, during WWII, he served in the United States Army stationed mostly in Europe. At the same time as he was serving, his four brothers were in the military as well as his sister Evelyn, who was working in a defense plant in California.

After his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to Haakon County.

Cliff was united in marriage to Marie M. Anderson on November 9, 1945 in Rapid City, South Dakota.

They made their home in Philip where Cliff worked at the electric generator plant for one year before Rural Electric Association was brought into the county.

In 1953 they moved to Kadoka where he continued to work as a lineman, and worked on meters and various other jobs for West Central Electric. During bad weather he would help other electric cooperatives restore electricity.

In 1963, he was involved with the missile sites as well as moving and relaying lines for the interstate highway system.

After thirty-two years of service he retired on July 5, 1984 but continued to make his home in Kadoka where he enjoyed fishing, woodworking and saw sharpening.

Clifford was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church, Badlands Lions Club, the American Legion Post #27, and the Kadoka Volunteer Fire Department, all of Kadoka.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Marie of Kadoka; four sons Ronald Gartner and his wife Marilyn of Interior, South Dakota, Raymond Gartner and his wife Wilma of Philip, Randy Gartner of Rapid City, and Rodney Gartner of Los Angeles, California; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one brother Cecil Gartner of Philip; one sister Evelyn Henricksen of Watertown, South Dakota; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Clifford was preceded in death by a grandson Willis Raymond Gartner; his parents; and three brothers Francis, Harold, and Herbert Gartner.

Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka and one hour preceding the services at the church.

Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m., Monday, July 21, at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Kadoka, with Pastor Paul Bly officiating.

Interment was in the Kadoka Cemetery.

A memorial has been established.

FUNERAL SERVICES
Monday, July 21, 2003 2:00 p.m.
Concordia Lutheran Church
Kadoka, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Paul Bly
MUSIC
Randi Oyan – Organist
Susan Davidson – Vocalist
"In The Garden"
"Old Rugged Cross"
USHERS
Leslie Struble - Allen Berry
PALLBEARERS
Emer Hulce - Jim Jones
Chris Metz - Marv Moore
Norm Payne - Eddie Arthur
Bob Gartner - Shannon Gartner
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota
"MY HUSBAND IS A LINEMAN"
My husband is a lineman handsome, strong and bold,
With hooks and safety belt, he’ll tackle any pole
When it’s snowing hard and we’re home safe and warm,
You’ll find my man there somewhere struggling against the storm.
When the electrical storm is thundering and the lightning is overhead,
It’s the lineman who’s called to work while everyone’s in bed.
Though death may linger overhead and sometimes seem quite near,
You’ll find he works like a professional, never showing any fear.
He’ll work like a trooper, from early dawn to dusk,
He knows very well that someone must.
To restore our power back to its full capacity,
He’s working for you and it’s very plain to see,
As a lineman he’s tops and like all the others,
He works as a team with his Union Brothers.
He’s my special lineman and I’m proud to say,
He’s one of the very best in the whole U.S.A.