MEADE – Benny Dale Garten (Butch), age 71, passed away Thursday, October 18 ^th , 2018, at the Meade District Hospital.

He was born August 9, 1947, to Dale and Murlene Garten on a kitchen table on the Byrd Hardy Ranch outside of Greensburg, Kansas.

He married Vivien Todhunter May 26 ^th , 1973, and lived in California operating a Skateboard business.  After selling the business, they moved to Meade, Kansas, in 1978, and he worked at the Meade Power Plant, then as a dispatcher for the Meade County Sheriff's office before opening his own business of Nothing Fancy and then The Trading Post.

He is survived by his wife, Vivien Garten; their daughters Christina Lynn and Jennifer Price; a son, Charles (Chip) Garten; a sister, Patricia Pass; two brother-in-laws, James Todhunter and wife Renee, and Mark Todhunter and wife Sue; an adopted/best friend/son, Eric Welker; four grandchildren, Krysten, Savyn, Cassondra, and Xander; eight great-grandchildren, Mason, Madalyn, Mya, Jax, Landon, Jayden, and Eli; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a younger brother, Buddy; a brother-in-law, James Pass; and a great-niece, Lilly Campbell.

He loved fishing, metal detecting, and was an avid coin collector.  He owned his bait shop and loved visiting, laughing, and telling jokes with his customers.  He was amazing at saving money and was loved by so many.  He will be missed.

Memorial services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at the Church of the Nazarene, Meade.  In accordance to his wishes, cremation has taken place.  Private family inurnment will take place at a later date.

The family would welcome memorials to the Neuropathy Association in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.