Kenneth Lee Schartz, 72, of Rapid City, SD, passed away on Monday, December 16, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society-New Underwood.

Kenny was born June 16, 1952, in Hartford SD and was the eldest son of Leo and Guriene (Muchow) Schartz. Kenny started school in Rapid City at Cleghorn Elementary. The family moved to Billings, and he graduated in 1970 from Billings High School. On family road trips, his siblings would always spot an abandoned house on the prairie and say, "There's Kenny's house." The family moved back to Rapid City in 1970. He went to work for Dakota Steel for a bit. He married Sharon (Andresen) in 1981, and in 1983 they welcomed their daughter Holly to the world. Kenny then went to work with his brother Dennis in Elko, Nevada and Rozet, Wy on workover rigs. When he came back to Rapid City he went to work for Valley Green Sod Farm.

Kenny was someone you could always count on. He had a quiet disposition and loved to spend time gardening flowers and vegetables, creating leatherwork, metal art, woodworking, baking and especially riding his Harley. He enjoyed tinkering and remained ready to begin the next project. His baking skills included delicious cookies, muffins and a favorite of many, his rhubarb crisp. Kenny loved going to the family farm in Hartford every summer as a child with his sister Linda. He used his passion for farming and worked for 20 years at Valley Green Sod Farm in Rapid City as the delivery driver, head mechanic and "righthand man."

Survivors include his daughter Holly Schartz, Rapid City; siblings Linda (Dave) Mell of Bozeman MT, Dennis (Cindy) Schartz, Gillette, WY, and Glenn and Keith (Andrea) Schartz, Rapid City; Aunts Avis Herdina, Rapid City, Barb Muchow, and Marlene (Merle) Grave, Hartford, SD, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, on Monday, December 23, 2024, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1630 Rushmore Street, with the memorial service at 10:30 am, at the church.

Entombment will be at Mt. View Cemetery in Rapid City.