FWP Employee Finds Way To Honor Late Warden
Gartside Reservoir Fishing Access Site (FAS) has a new fixture, in part thanks to an FWP employee with a special connection to the site. A new sign was recently installed at the recreation site near Sidney honoring game warden Harold Gartside, who lost his life in the line of duty.
When Vanessa Zeitner started her career with FWP as an administrative assistant for Region 7 in 2012, she was surprised to learn that Gartside Reservoir was named for Harold Gartside, who was married to her late mother-in-law, Lorraine Zeitner, at the time of his death. After Lorraine’s passing in January of 2019, Vanessa wanted to do something to commemorate the reason Gartside Reservoir got its name.
In 2023, she started the process of getting a donation from the Montana Game Warden’s Association to erect a sign. With the help from fellow staff members Amy Glascock and Brenna Maloney, the sign was completed on May 7. Vanessa was privileged to be able to help install the sign.
The sign reads: The Dream of Gartside Reservoir Gartside Reservoir began as a dream of the Richland County Sportsman’s Club to provide fishing, boating, swimming, picnic areas and a community gathering place. What began in 1948 was finally realized in April 1958 with the cooperation of volunteers from the farming community, townspeople and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
A Tragic Turn of Events Originally slated as the “Crane Creek Project,” it was later dedicated to Montana Game Warden Harold Gartside, who died in the line of duty April 24th, 1955, while checking beaver traps on the shores of the Missouri River south of Bainville, MT. Warden Gartside and fellow Warden Red Biehl of Fairview hit a snag in the swift current near Snowden Bridge and their boat was capsized. Biehl reached the shore, but Harold could not be found. Search volunteers from all over the area were unsuccessful. His body was recovered two months later 20 miles downstream just south of a bridge in Williston, N.D.
Honoring Game Warden Gartside Game Warden Gartside, born Aug. 22, 1915, was a World War II Army Veteran from 1942-1946. Starting in Plentywood and later stationed in Sidney, he served with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for nine years. He left behind his wife Lorraine (Harn) Gartside of five years and young daughters JoAnne, 3, and Mary Sue, born seven days after his death.
Gartside’s Legacy and the Completion of the Reservoir Gartside was a true conservationist, wildlife activist and recreationist, especially when it came to youth. He was active in the Richland County Sportsman’s Club and one of the strongest boosters for the Crane Creek Project. In June of 1955, the project was dedicated in memory of Harold Arthur Gartside and renamed “Gartside Reservoir.” The project was completed in April of 1958.
Harold Arthur Gartside End of Watch: Sunday, April 24, 1955.
