Having a heart
Garrison firefighters extend a helping hand to one of their own
BY TYSON SMEDSTAD
tyson@nordaknorth.com
When someone is in need, the Garrison Fire Department is always there to help.
And one of their own will be the recipient of that help.
The fire department usually has an annual fish try in the spring for Lent. This year, they decided to dedicate this year's event to Behles. Proceeds from the fish fry help cover medical expenses and time in Rochester, Minnesota, where Behles will recover after having a heart transplant.
"The fire department is just a bunch of great guys,” Behles said. “They'll help you out,"
"They are a family,” his wife Darci added.
Behles joined the Garrison Fire Department 20 years ago in March of 2001. However, his health led to his retirement in May of last year.
Behles had a lingering feeling since the fall of 2020 that something wasn't right. His health had been deteriorating and he had constant pain in his abdomen.
"I wasn't able to keep up shoveling behind the sweep in the grain bin," Behles said. "I was getting bigger so I thought I just needed to lose some weight."
He was overweight, miserable, congested and just couldn't breathe well.
