Kenneth “Ken” Harty

Kenneth Harty, 72, of Bristol, SD and formerly Roslyn, SD passed away on Friday, November 27, 2020 at Marshall County Healthcare Center Avera in Britton, SD. A private family memorial service will be held 3:00 P.M. Thursday December 3, 2020 at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster and will be livestreamed on Fiksdal Funeral Service Facebook page. Kenneth Paul Harty was born to George & Magdalena Harty on Thursday, October 21st 1948 in Aberdeen SD. One of five children, Ken and family lived in Hosmer, SD and Ashley, ND before the family relocated and settled in Aberdeen, SD in 1952. Ken attended primary and middle school at Aberdeen Roncalli Catholic School until transferring to Monroe Junior High and on to Aberdeen Central from where he graduated in 1967. Upon graduation Ken enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he was trained as an AmTracMan, until his deployment to Vietnam in 1968. For his service he received the National Defense Service Medal with 1 Combat Action Ribbon and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with a Rifle Marksman Badge. After returning from his tour of duty in Vietnam, Ken served with the Military Police in Oceanside, California until his honorable discharge with the rank of Sergeant First Class. Ken married Susan Gruba on July 19th, 1969 in San Diego California before returning to the Dakotas where the couple started their family. Ken worked for the Rapid City Police Department, the IBM company in Minneapolis, MN and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Fargo, ND before becoming the Chief of Police in Kindred, ND. Ken was a member of the Kindred School Board, an EMT for the Kindred Area Ambulance Service, and was elected to the Kindred City Council. Ken was a founding member of the Church of God Seventh Day in Fargo, ND and an outgoing & outspoken advocate for those in need. Along with his wife, Ken worked with Lutheran Social Services Refugee Relocation Program and was a long time foster parent for the Cass County Family Services Division. Ken and Susan relocated to Roslyn, SD where Ken worked for the South Dakota Department of Health and was half of the morning show on Kickin Country B103. A short time later he moved into social work with the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, fostering countless children and starting a parents counseling course on the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate reservation. He was the Director of the Sisseton Wahpeton Child Protection Program until his retirement in 2015. Ken’s life was defined by his drive to serve his family, friends, country, community, and his Creator. He lived knowing that positive creates, while negative destroys. He is survived by his wife and children; Rob Harty, Chad(Angie) Harty, Josh(Jessica)Harty, Paul(Bryanna) Harty, Tarah(David) Kroll, Aaliyah Harty, and longtime foster daughter Hurizon Davila; one brother, Roger Harty; one sister, Mary Ann Sherman; his longtime friend & companion Gordon, the dog. He was preceded in death by his brother Leroy Harty, his father George, his mother Magdalena, his daughter Demetria, and his sister Vivian Fustos; his dogs, Whiskey, Tasha, Sadie and Whiskey II. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Ken’s honor to the Day County Veterans Services.