Kenneth Michael Garst February 19, 1940 - September 8, 2026

Kenneth Michael Garst

February 19, 1940 – September 8, 2026

Kenneth “Mike” Garst passed away peacefully with his beloved wife of 56 years, Beverly, by his side on September 8, 2026.  Mike had a “larger-than-life” personality and loved his life and family fiercely.  He was the guy who could always find something in common with whomever he spoke to and loved whatever it was that he was doing. 

Mike spent most of his early life in southern California and loved talking about his early years in  the Los Angeles area. He spent a lot of time at his grandparents’ home in Rosemead growing up and spent summers with his dad, Dr. Ronald J. Garst, in Oklahoma. He moved with his mother and brother to Sacramento for the last two years of high school and graduated from Grant High School there. Mike enlisted in the Army after a year of community college in Compton and was a proud member of the 82^nd Airborne – All Americans. While in the service he was also stationed in Alaska for a year.  After being honorably discharged from the Army, he decided to return to school and pursue a degree.  Mike graduated from Sacramento State with a double major in Mathematics and English Literature.  He earned his teaching credential there.  Mike taught high school in Compton for about 3 years before he resigned and then taught English for a year at Modesto Junior College while he went back to earn another degree at Stanislaus State.  While he was at Stanislaus State, he met his wife in a fencing class [really!]  Mike decided to transfer schools and was in the Doctorate program in Education at UCLA but decided that he would prefer the Master’s in Library Science program which he achieved at UCLA.  His love for literature was evident in all that he did. Mike was a teacher for 39 years and spent the majority of his teaching career at Los Banos High School where he taught mathematics.  Before switching to teaching math in Los Banos, he was the District Librarian there for 5 years.  In Los Banos, he was instrumental in partnering with UC/Berkeley for many upper level math courses and opportunities for his students. He also wrote grants for math courses and piloted math programs including convincing the district that the advanced math calculators were going to be of value to his students [he was always ahead of the curve and forward thinking].  Mike also authored a publication:  Reading and Study Skills:  Laboratory Manual [teacher and student editions].  Mike was also involved in the bookstore they owned, Garcia-Garst, Booksellers, for many years while they had an open shop.  He was very well-read, had an amazing vocabulary, was very intelligent, was quite humorous, and managed to help and encourage critical thinking skills in all those he encountered. He was truly one-of-a-kind.

Mike’s hobbies filled his home – he collected stamps and every nook and corner has books.  He also was very keen on exercising and walked 7-8 miles daily until about 3 years ago.  He also loved lifting weights and never missed a chance to show off his “guns”.  He loved talking about politics and was always willing to take the opposite side of anything in order to get people thinking. One of Mike and Beverly’s passions was traveling – especially to National and State parks where they spent their vacations hiking in wonderful places and enjoying the amazing and majestic trails and views.  The memories of trips with their children and later with their children and grandchildren to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Hawaii, Disneyland, and many more places were treasures to take out and talk about.

What Mike most loved was his family – he always said that he loved hearing the rest of us laughing and talking around the table – it made him feel complete even when he was unable to participate. He just loved knowing that we were all together.  He was so very proud of his children and grandchildren and bragged about them to anyone who would stand still and listen! Mike was also extremely protective of his family and cared so much.

One of our friends had this to say about Mike – “intelligent, formidable, but with a larger than life personality, I thrived on his challenges and he taught me how to think through ideas and still come out laughing”.  This really speaks to his influence and his being and is an apt description of the man he was.  We will miss him every day, and we will always carry him in our hearts.

Mike is survived by his wife, Beverly, their children Heather [Mike] Orosco; Jerod [Janice] Garst; Shane [Jayme] Garst; Theron [Thavy] Garst; grandchildren Grace and Elio Cardoso; Addison, Payton, and Caden Garst; Lily Van Bedford and Jolie Garst; Cheyenne and Matai Garst; Atom Garst Biggs, Troy Garst Biggs; sister Linda Gupta [Ash]; brother-in-law and best friend, David Garcia, niece Valerie Garst; sisters-in-law Sharon Garcia Hazer and Diana Garcia Ryan [Pat]; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank and acknowledge the extraordinary care and kindness Mike received the last five weeks as a resident of Valley Comfort Assisted Living/Dementia Care.  The Gaither family and their wonderful staff were incredible.

There will a private burial at San Joaquin National Cemetery and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Park Foundation or any National or State park of your choosing.