Kent Garfield Alm was born on May 29, 1928, in Binford, North Dakota to Hazel and Oscar Alm. He passed away peacefully on August 8, 2024.
Kent dedicated his life to service, whether it was in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War, or teaching on a Native American reservation in South Dakota. Kent’s commitment to education continued at Mankato State University, where he served as Academic Vice President, Executive Vice President, and Acting President. He concluded his distinguished career as the Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of North Dakota.
It was in Mankato that Kent met his wife of 53 years, Diane Alm. Together they raised seven children, and their family grew to include eighteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Kent was immensely proud of his family’s achievements across various fields, including business, music, medicine, aviation, athletics, education, and entertainment. He especially cherished summers at the lake, where he found great joy in watching his family gather and grow year after year.
Kent was a man of many talents, known for his unparalleled sense of humor and way with words. His legacy lives on in all who knew him throughout his remarkable life.
A service to honor Kent’s memory will be held on September 1st at 2:00 p.m. in Touchmark at Harwood Groves.