Garth, 81, died January 16, 2017, in Dillon, Montana. He grew up in Appleton, MN, and attended the University of Minnesota and St. John's University. Garth served in Korea with the 101st Airborne.

Garth moved to Montana to attend the Univ. of Montana and jumped at Missoula during the 1959 season. He worked for the state for 25 years as a game warden. In 1995, Garth successfully ran for a Beaverhead County Commissioner's position where he served for 22 years before resigning due to health complications related to cancer.