Gary Reidman, age 79, of Valley City, ND, died Tuesday, May 12th in Fargo, ND under Hospice care surrounded by his loving family. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 19th at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fargo. Visitation will be held on Monday from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM at St. Anthony of Padua Church. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 Monday evening at the church. Interment will be at the Fargo National Cemetery. An online guestbook and livestream of Gary’s funeral service will be available at www.lerudmathias.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Traditions Funeral Services of Valley City.
Gary was born on July 18, 1946, in Valley City, ND, the eldest of Lester and Phyllis (nee, Algeo) Riedman. He grew up in a farm family outside of Valley City learning the values of hard work, loyalty, and integrity. Gardening, cutting grass, fixing machinery, and driving tractors became second nature to Gary and were all pursuits that he enjoyed throughout his life. He attended Green School through the eighth grade and graduated from Valley City High School in 1964. He enjoyed baseball, wrestling, and FFA, especially showing his cattle at the Valley City Winter Show, but he most loved being on the farm working alongside his dad. In 1966 Gary enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, completing Basic Training at Camp Pendleton, before being deployed to Vietnam where he served in nine operations during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1968. Gary married Kathleen Persons, of Valley City, on December 1, 1968, celebrating a love that lasted a lifetime. Their eldest daughter, Kimberly, was born in Fargo in 1970. Upon his graduation from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1972, Gary and Kathy moved to Red Wood Falls, MN, where he taught Industrial Arts and coached high school wrestling. Their second daughter, Kari, was born in 1974, followed by their third daughter, Kasey, in 1976, both in Fergus Falls, MN, where he continued to teach and coach high school wrestling until 1977. While still holding a teaching position, Gary worked as a construction foreman during evenings and summers. He built every house his family lived in, often moving everyone into the basement while he completed construction on the main floor in his spare time and on weekends. In 1977, Gary built the family their forever home in Valley City and dedicated his life once again to farming. He often joked that he never “retired”, he just got “really tired”. He farmed with his cousin, Chuck Riedman, during this “retirement”. They worked together effortlessly, always in-sync, often needing no words to accomplish their goals. Gary liked to work hard and play harder. He was an avid outdoorsman, committed conservationist, talented carpenter, skilled marksman, gifted teacher, and generous spirit. Some of his greatest joys were spending time at his cabin on Lake Lida, taking in almost every type of water sport that can be done on a lake, and enjoying evenings by the campfire. He is renowned for teaching his children and grandchildren how to ski, fish, hunt, and live life to its fullest. He was quick to lend a hand to a neighbor in need, especially if that need involved creative problem-solving. He was very social, always up for a good conversation, and loved to share all of his life-lessons and entertain everyone with his stories. Gary purely enjoyed the camaraderie he shared hunting and fishing with his father and brother Dave, his brother-in-law Jim, his many cousins and close friends. Above all else and throughout his entire life Gary was a faithful and devoted family man.
Gary is survived by his wife, Kathleen Riedman; daughters Kimberly (Thomas) Noah, Fargo, ND; Kari (Ivan) Clements, Rosemount, MN; and Kasey (Jon) Skalicky, Valley City, ND; his brother David (Marilyn) Riedman, McMinnville, OR; his five grandchildren Ellie Noah, Sara Noah, Drew Noah, Aidan Clements, and Samuel Clements; his brother-in-law Jim Persons, sister-in-law Debra Beck; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, twin brothers Neil and Noel, grandson Jacob Riedman, father/mother-in-law Jim and Muriel Persons, and brother-in-law Robert Persons.
The family would like to express a special thank-you to Kim and Tom Noah who opened their home to care for Gary in the last months of his life. His family and friends will never forget the memories shared during this time. We were able to honor his life and our lives were blessed by being able to live around him, share stories, and have pie – which he offered to share with everyone who visited him.