Max was born on Aug 22, 1923 in Aberdeen, S.D. He grew up and attended school in Minneapolis, graduating from Marshall High School. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1940 and was stationed on the USS Breese at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. 1941. He served in all the major Pacific campaigns during WWII.

He married Ruth Gamec on July 6, 1944 in Oakland, Calif. Upon his discharge in 1945, they returned to Minneapolis where he started a career in sales throughout the Midwest, which included working for Murphy Motor Freight and E.L. Murphy Trucking, both of St. Paul.

He was a Past Commander of the American Legion Post #49 in Pequot Lakes, and a member of VFW Post #3839 in Jenkins, both the American Legion Post #49 and VFW Color Guard, El Zagal Shrine of Fargo and was the first "King Bean" of Beanhole Days in Pequot Lakes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Leone (Meade) Garten, son, Mark and four brothers, Lance, Emmett, Larry and John.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, Fargo; son, Steve (Emily), Fargo; daughters, Merry (Tom) Sutter, Maple Grove, MN; Cheryl (Jeff) Brooke, Peoria, Ariz.; grandchildren, Travis (Nicole) Sutter, Albertville; Beth (Kurt) Bohlmann, Fargo, N.D.; Rebecca Garten, Atlanta, GA; Ryan Althoff, Peoria, Ariz.; Molly (Marcus Lewis), Scottsdale, Ariz.; Chelsey and Megan Brooke, Peoria, Ill.; great grandchildren; Lane Bohlmann, Arnina and Max Sutter, and Nayeli Lewis; half-brother, Howard (Michell) Garten, two half-sisters, Wilma Murphy and Maxine Kincaid, all of Powersville, MO.

Memorial Service will be Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes. Burial following service at Our Saviors Cemetery, Pequot Lakes.

Max will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

A heartfelt "thank you" to everyone at Rosewood who took such wonderful care of Max and the Red River Valley Hospice of Fargo.

Condolences can be sent online westfuneralhome.com.